 Only those who truly care about you can hear you when you're quiet.
Anyone can notice you when you're loud. They can hear your words, see your accomplishments, or recognize your presence in a room. But those who truly love you notice what others miss. They see when your smile doesn't quite reach your eyes, when your laughter becomes softer, when your spirit feels weighed down, or when your heart is carrying a burden you haven't spoken aloud. Love pays attention. The loudest cries are not always spoken with words. Sometimes they are hidden behind a forced smile, an unusual silence, or a quiet withdrawal from the people we love. The most compassionate people learn to listen with their eyes, their hearts, and their presence. This is the kind of love Christ has shown us. Jesus sees beyond appearances. He knows the burdens we carry before we ever speak them. He is never fooled by a smile that hides pain or by words that conceal a weary heart. The apostle Paul calls us to reflect that same love: "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."- Galatians 6:2 Notice what Paul doesn't say. He doesn't tell us to judge one another's burdens or compare them. He tells us to carry them. To carry someone's burden, we first have to notice they are carrying one. Sometimes that means asking, "How are you…really?" Sometimes it means sitting quietly beside someone who doesn't yet have the words. Sometimes it means praying for them when they don't have the strength to pray for themselves. Love is often expressed not through grand gestures but through faithful presence. Jesus modeled this kind of compassion throughout His ministry. He noticed the overlooked, welcomed the rejected, comforted the grieving, and drew near to those others avoided. He listened, not only to people's words but to their hearts. As His followers, we are invited to do the same. Imagine how different our families, churches, friendships, and communities would be if we slowed down enough to notice one another. What if we became people who looked beyond appearances and chose compassion over assumption? What if we made room for someone else's pain instead of expecting them to carry it alone? Being heard in our silence is one of the greatest gifts we can receive. And also, being willing to hear someone else in their silence is one of the greatest gifts we can give. Today, ask God to give you eyes that notice, ears that truly listen, and a heart that is willing to carry the burdens of others. You may never know how much your presence, encouragement, or quiet act of kindness means to someone who has been silently asking God for help. You never know when unconsciously you are the answer to someone's prayer. Because sometimes the most Christlike thing we can do is simply notice the person who has stopped asking to be noticed.
0 Comments
 The 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique was credited to Betty Alice Erickson, a psychotherapist in the mid to late 1900s. If you think about it, this technique can open up your mind to any space: in that space you can do more inner work. It can help with anxiety because you become more aware of your surroundings and where you are at. You are not surprised by anything. You are doing the work to recognize where you are and notice yourself in that environment. By doing that, you realize you are safe and secure in that environment. Like when you go into a specific new location, you can use this technique in that scenario. Like going to a movie, into a restaurant, or on a trip - do these five things. Like most people I do not love going to the doctor. It is easy to get flustered while being there and not being sure what is happening or being said. I can take this technique with me into this experience to ground myself. I can see the scale, chairs, receptionist, candy bowl and a photo on the wall. I can hear the door opening to her office, a window being shut, a phone ringing and fax machine receiving. I can touch the candy, receptionist desk, and a pen out of the pen holder. I can smell cookies and coffee. I can taste a piece of candy from the candy bowl, I always grab the Reese. Doing this exercise can help me remember the moment, which can help with self-reflection. It can help me remember my experience. It can do the same for you. Also, by doing this and stepping out of your comfort zone, it can also wake you up. You are doing something you were not prepared for which makes you be more alert. What would happen if you don’t do them? If you don’t try the initial process, you will never know. Openness allows our hearts to see the authentic world unfolding before us. When we remain open, we discover delight in our daily pursuits and recognize the beauty hidden within ordinary moments. We need the courage to evolve to open ourselves to new experiences, new perspectives, and the beauty life has to offer. Growth requires us to step beyond what is familiar and trust that there is more waiting for us. Following Him in faith. Following Him means trusting God even when you cannot see the entire path ahead. It means allowing His wisdom to guide your thoughts, His Word to shape your decisions, and His presence to give you strength. Allow yourself to be open to see the world around you today. Let what you see through Him transform your path. See through His eyes.  Life isn't about winning every battle. There will be setbacks, failures, disappointments, and days when it feels like you've lost. But one lost battle does not determine the outcome of the war. As followers of Christ, our focus is not on momentary victories but on faithful endurance. God calls us to persevere, trusting Him even when the battle is difficult. "The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again." -Proverbs 24:16 Every setback is an opportunity to grow stronger, wiser, and more dependent on God. The enemy wants you to believe that one defeat defines you. Jesus reminds us that His grace is greater than our failures. "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; character; and, hope." Romans 5:3–4 The Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep your eyes on Christ, not merely on the outcome of today's struggle. Stead fast in your pursuit. Do not take your eyes off of Him. He will carry you through. Not the outside circumstances.  |
Come back soon for new blogs weekly!I will be writing about my TBI recovery tools, favorite healthy recipes, workout ideas and encouragement, and ways I stay engaged. Archives
August 2026
Categories |
RSS Feed