-A homemaker mom, longing to talk to someone besides her four year old all day.
-An old lady, aching to tell of her adult son who committed suicide.
-A pastor's wife, needing to share the burden of what's going on in her church with someone who knows no one and will share it with no one.
-A child, desperate to tell someone of their new home and backyard.
-A teenager, wanting attention, yearning for love, even if she has nothing of substance really to say.
-A husband, reluctant to talk, and yet, needing to share his heart.
Many times on the deputation trail, I find myself with people who need to listen. It shocked me at first, what people will say to a missionary's wife. I guess it's because I'm not local, but people tell me all kinds of situations, problems, family life, and so forth. I've found that even though a person may be willing to listen to me share my burden for Georgia, they can't listen fully when their heart is carrying it's own heavy burden.
And listening is more than hearing. Listening is caring. Listening is coming along side another person to help them carry their burden for a moment. Listening is praying for and with them. Listening is a ministry.
Perhaps deputation is quite accurately referred to as pre-field ministry. Do I love God so much that His love for people overflows into my heart? Do I really care for people? If I cannot love people now, witness now, listen now, I won't be able to automatically start on the mission field. THIS is my training ground. Sometimes it's hard to drop what I'm doing or thinking to listen to someone else, especially when I feel burdened myself. Again and again, I have to remind myself, this is what God has given me to do. Am I willing to listen for Him?
-An old lady, aching to tell of her adult son who committed suicide.
-A pastor's wife, needing to share the burden of what's going on in her church with someone who knows no one and will share it with no one.
-A child, desperate to tell someone of their new home and backyard.
-A teenager, wanting attention, yearning for love, even if she has nothing of substance really to say.
-A husband, reluctant to talk, and yet, needing to share his heart.
Many times on the deputation trail, I find myself with people who need to listen. It shocked me at first, what people will say to a missionary's wife. I guess it's because I'm not local, but people tell me all kinds of situations, problems, family life, and so forth. I've found that even though a person may be willing to listen to me share my burden for Georgia, they can't listen fully when their heart is carrying it's own heavy burden.
And listening is more than hearing. Listening is caring. Listening is coming along side another person to help them carry their burden for a moment. Listening is praying for and with them. Listening is a ministry.
Perhaps deputation is quite accurately referred to as pre-field ministry. Do I love God so much that His love for people overflows into my heart? Do I really care for people? If I cannot love people now, witness now, listen now, I won't be able to automatically start on the mission field. THIS is my training ground. Sometimes it's hard to drop what I'm doing or thinking to listen to someone else, especially when I feel burdened myself. Again and again, I have to remind myself, this is what God has given me to do. Am I willing to listen for Him?
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