A Listening Heart*

A follow up to the last post “I Hope This Helps”

Just listening is a way of giving, although sometimes a little less recognized, and sometimes just listening is very difficult.

I linked the post below “A Listening Heart” in the last post, but here it is, in case you didn’t click on it and see it

Dr.Viktor Frankl, who is very well-known for his compelling book, “Man’s Search For Meaning”** tells a very interesting story.  A patient (he was a psychiatrist) once phoned him in the middle of the night to tell him, that she was about to commit suicide. He spoke to her for two hours.  He gave her every reason to live that you can imagine giving. Finally, she said that she had changed her mind and would not commit suicide. The next time he saw her, he asked her which of the things he said convinced her to change her mind.  “None,” she replied. “Why then did you decide not to commit suicide?” She replied that the mere fact that someone cared enough to listen to her for two hours in the middle of the night was all that it took.

When King David was dying he appointed his son Solomon to be the heir to his throne.  Solomon was only twelve years old and as you can imagine, was quite anxious about becoming King.  G-d appeared to King Solomon in a dream (1 Kings 3: 9) and asked him what he would like to have as the King.  He could have asked for more treasure, a larger population to rule over, more territory to rule over, a greater army, etc.  The one and only thing Solomon asked for was “a listening heart”

Be Good Do Good Think Good Be Grateful Be Healthy Choose Wisely

**If you haven’t read this book, then consider it a homework assignment

* “An Oldie But Goodie” posted for the third time