"The first duty of love is to listen."
Paul Tillich
There are numerous occasions when we struggle to compose a remedy for a companion's dilemma, rather than simply being present offering our full attention. As we love our family, mates and friends, we have not signed a contract to "fix" anything.
During our own journey, we stumble and fall, yearning for a loved one to listen to our sad tale. We sincerely do not want to listen to someone telling us how we should have worn other shoes or traveled in a different direction.
Our desire is to open and share what is inside of us and when the listener randomly talks, he or she hears nothing. The silent message is "I'm not as interested in listening to you, as I am in listening to my self." The desire to "fix" needs to be shifted to words of comfort: "I hear what you are saying," and "I see you and want to hear more."
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