{"id":2520,"date":"2021-04-12T05:30:44","date_gmt":"2021-04-12T11:30:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.melaniebnewman.com\/staging\/9944\/?p=2520"},"modified":"2021-04-10T19:19:32","modified_gmt":"2021-04-11T01:19:32","slug":"the-special-gift-we-all-have-to-give","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.melaniebnewman.com\/staging\/9944\/the-special-gift-we-all-have-to-give\/","title":{"rendered":"The Special Gift We All Have to Give"},"content":{"rendered":"

We all have a special gift.<\/p>\n

This gift is powerful and inherent in each of us.<\/b> It is available to share at a moment\u2019s notice.<\/p>\n

What is this gift?<\/p>\n

The gift of listening, giving one\u2019s focused attention to another.<\/b><\/p>\n

I recently came to understand how life-strengthening this gift can be from a simple interaction my husband had at the grocery store.<\/p>\n

We needed a few groceries and decided to divide and conquer.<\/p>\n

When we were on our way home, he told me of the following experience.<\/p>\n

As he was deciding whether to put a warm, roasted chicken in his cart, a man came up to him and asked if this type of chicken was any good.<\/p>\n

What followed was a heart-wrenching conversation.<\/p>\n

The man told my husband that he\u2019d been diagnosed with cancer and that today was the first day he\u2019s talked with anyone in a month!<\/p>\n

I imagine this man was at the grocery store to not only obtain food, but with the hope of receiving human connection, to be seen and heard. And truthfully, isn\u2019t that what we all desire?<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t see this man, but my heart went out to him, imagining what he must be going through.<\/p>\n

My husband is a reserved, quiet man who is more comfortable alone on his tractor farming than socializing with people.<\/p>\n

But for a few minutes that day, he gave the gift of focused attention and a listening ear to an individual in need.<\/b><\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t take much time. Nothing more was being asked of him other than to listen with respect and kindness.<\/p>\n

Knowing my husband, I can visualize him cocking his head slightly to listen. I can see the kindness in his eyes, and hear the gentleness in his response.<\/p>\n

He truly gave the gift of listening which not only strengthened this man, but uplifted him as well.<\/b><\/p>\n

I have wondered how many times have I not fully listened to another? Perhaps I worry that what I\u2019m able to offer will not be enough, or just the right thing, or that I\u2019ll be asked to give more than I\u2019m able.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How often do I let fear stop me?<\/p>\n

Often listening is all that is being asked<\/b>, but my worry gets in the way of that gift.<\/p>\n

My husband\u2019s experience was a reminder to me to be ready to share this simple, easy to share gift of listening.<\/b><\/p>\n

Much love,<\/p>\n

\"Melanie<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We all have a special gift. This gift is powerful and inherent in each of us. It is available to share at a moment\u2019s notice. What is this gift? The gift of listening, giving one\u2019s focused attention to another. I…<\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2521,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12,11],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2520","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-emotional","8":"category-mental","9":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nThe Special Gift We All Have to Give - Melanie B Newman<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We all have available to us a special gift, the gift of listening. 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