Listen to me

When i ask you to listen to me, and you start giving advice, you have not done what i asked. When i ask you to listen to me and you begin to tell me why i shouldn't feel that way, you are trampling on my feelings. When i ask you to listen to me you feel you have to do something to solve my problems, you have failed me, strange, as that may seem.

Listen! all i ask is that you listen, not to talk or do --- just hear me.

When you do something for me that i can and need to do for myself, you contribute to my fear and inadequacy.

And i can do for myself; i am not helpless. May be discouraged and faltering, but not helpless.

But when you accept as a simple fact that i do feel what i feel, no matter how irrational, then i quit trying to convince you and get about the business of understanding what's behind this irrational feeling. And when that's clear, the answers are obvious and i don't need advice.

God listens and lets you work it out for yourself.

So please listen and just hear me. And if you want to talk, wait a minute for your turn and i will listen to you.