Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
James 1: 19-20
I was coaching my son’s baseball team when I looked at a child (not my son) right before he went to bat and said, “Don’t swing right away because the pitcher hasn’t thrown a strike this entire inning”. He looked at me and replied, “My mom is getting us pizza for dinner”. The boy walked up to the plate and swung at his first three pitches. I don’t think he heard what I was saying. He had other things on his mind. He wanted to tell me what was on his mind instead of listening to my instructions. In families, our attempts at communication are many times just white noise in the background.
Be quick to listen. The key to communication is listening. We can say stuff all day long it is just talking to ourselves until someone is listening. So often, we find ourselves looking at someone but never truly connecting with what they have to say. In families, if we don’t truly listen it leads to arguments. Lack of communication leads to confusion. Bad communication leads to striking out in three pitches.
Take time out. Focus on each other. Listen to what each other has to say. Kid’s, your parents know what they are talking about. Parents, your kids want to hear about your day. Spouses, share your hopes. Communicate with each other it helps things go run better.
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