The longer I live… the more conscious I am of simply not having the answer to so many questions and situations in life… and have finally recognized and accepted that my job is to listen .. and God’s to answer in His own time… the right time.
I remember when Chapel of Hope blog readers chose one word annually that would guide them through the New Year… I always chose listening.
I have come to the conclusion that if we all listened more and were less prone to quickly dispense our opinions as answers to others… many situations would work themselves out naturally… in Divine time… God’s answer to His children.
*** I must admit though it would not work on Jeopardy if the contestants (instead of answering in the form of a question) buzzed in and just listened… afraid the ratings would drop pretty quickly. 😂
When I think back on the best responses and answers I received from others growing up ( friends and family) … the best solutions did come in the form of questions like ” How did that make you feel? Or ” Upon reflection, is there anything YOU could have done or said that might have improved the situation? ”
Answers in the form of thoughtful questions directed at me…were my best learning experiences. I listened and then was left alone to meditate on the thought challenges given me for any role I , unconsciously, might have played in an altercation.
So until tomorrow…
“LISTENING IS ONE OF THE LOUDEST FORMS OF KINDNESS!!!”
Today is my favorite day-Winnie the Pooh
Look at this beautiful patriotic July homemade wreath on Doodle’s door I got to see yesterday! Amazing! Another gorgeous Encore Azalea blooming! Thanks to my neighbor Vickie… our “time-share” rose bush is slowly making a comeback! The fishing days of summer! Our family fisherman -Jake- is still pulling the bass in from the canal waters from Wakendaw LakesUnfortunately… fish are not the only ones in the lakes… only in a community in the Lowcountry would you find this warning on the community billboard!
I was born a Tarheel but ended up a Sandlapper. My grandparents
were cotton farmers in Laurens, South Carolina and it was in my
grandmother’s house that my love of storytelling began beside an old
Franklin stove. When I graduated from Laurens High School, I attended
Erskine College (Due West of what?) and would later get my Masters
Degree in Education/Social Studies from Charleston Southern. I am
presently an adjunct professor/clinical supervisor at CSU and have also
taught at the College of Charleston.
For 28 years I taught Social Studies through storytelling. My philosophy
matched Rudyard Kipling’s quote: “If history were taught in the form of
stories, it would never be forgotten.” Today I still spread this message
through workshops and presentations throughout the state. The secret
of success in teaching social studies is always in the story.
I want to keep learning and being surprised by life…it is the greatest
teacher. Like Kermit said, “When you’re green you grow, when you’re
ripe you rot.”
ichaseferalcats
John Turner
Legally Ohm
Becky Dingle