How to Fix a Listening Problem

I maneuver this tiny band loom shuttle entirely with my left hand. Winding the shuttle properly is essential. If the thread is not wound tightly, loops of thread start slipping off the ends of the shuttle, which messes up everything. Good listening is like a well-wound shuttle, and is essential for the health of any relationship. Even when we want to listen better, it’s easy to fall into bad habits.

Glimakra Band Loom with hand-carved shuttle
Three sizes of linen thread are combined to weave a simple band on the band loom. Shuttle, hand-carved by my husband, is modeled after an old Swedish band loom shuttle.

Mrs. Isenhower, your son does not have a hearing problem, the audiologist informed me. Apparently, what he has is a listening problem. Ha ha! That seems funny now, years later. When it comes to listening, though, eight-year-old boys aren’t the only ones with a problem. My own viewpoint often stands in the way of hearing another. And in defense mode, I miss what another person says entirely.

If I listen with a humble heart, I am more interested in what you have to say than I am in my own opinions. Humility prepares the heart before a conversation, like carefully preparing that shuttle for the band loom, and smooths the way to truly hear.

May you hear something new as you practice listening today.

Learning to listen,
Karen

4 thoughts on “How to Fix a Listening Problem

  1. Karen,
    I love this post! I feel so loved by our Lord that He brought you across my path AND that you had already prepared beforehand this timely message. Thanks so much for your encouragement.

    1. Laurie, I’ve been equally encouraged by you today. It never ceases to amaze me how our master weaver interweaves our threads at just the right time!

  2. Thank you Karen for sharing your insights. I have been reading several of them this morning, I needed encouragement, I needed to be reminded that I need to listen, closely, to have a humble heart
    I needed to be reminded that God has a plan, a purpose
    May God bless you

    1. Hi Pam,
      We all need those sorts of reminders. I’m so very glad you found reminders for what you need on these pages.
      Thank you for joining the conversation here!
      God’s blessings to you, too.
      Karen

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