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Marital
Moments
James
1:19
states,
"Wherefore,
my
brethren,
let
every
man
be
swift
to
hear,
slow
to
speak,
and
slow
to
wrath."
This
verse
boldly
declares
that
we
should
be
listening
more
than
we
are
speaking.
No
where
is
this
more
true
than
in
our
homes.
Both
husbands
and
wives
should
devoted
themselves
to
this
important
task.
I
sincerely
believer
that
most,
if
not
all,
of
our
martial
problems
could
be
solved
if
only
we
could
learn
the
art
of
communication.
To
often
we
think
that
communication
only
involves
talking.
This
could
not
be
further
from
the
truth.
True
communication
is
built
upon
the
twin
pillars
of
both
talking
and
listening.
In
this
Marital
Moment,
I
want
to
begin
a
five
part
series
on
the
principal
of
listening.
"Listen
Until
You
Understand
Completely
What
Is
Being
Said".
In
a
world
filled
with
conflicting
voices
and
in a
body
that
is
tainted
by a
sin
nature
we
humans
struggle
to
com- municate
with
each
other.
Thus
"misunderstanding"
is
at
the
heart
of
most
family
problems.
Therefore,
we
must
listen
with
rapt
attention
to
our
partner
lest
we
come
short
in
this
important
area.
Sadly
we
often
think
that
our
way
is
the
only
way.
Our
answer
is
the
only
answer.
Our
words
are
the
only
ones
with
validity.
Thus
we
fail
to
listen
completely
to
what
our
spouse
is
saying.
We
don't
com-prehend
their
words
because
we
think
that
we
are
superior
and
that
we
know
best
what
should
be
done.
If
we
would
understand
our
husband
or
wife,
then
we
must
lay
aside
our
preconceived
notions
and
listen
carefully
and
completely
until
we
grasp
with
total
clarity
what
is
being
said.
We
prejudge
their
talk,
assured
that
we
know
in
advance
what
they
are
going
to
say.
We
set
and
look
them
in
the
eye
but
we
really
fail
to
understand
completely.
We
are
basically
saying
that,
"You
have
my
ear,
but
not
my
mind
or
my
heart.
I
have
reserved
these
areas
for
myself.
When
you
stop
talking
then
I
will
resume
with
the
important
commun-ication."
Not
only
must
we
lay
aside
our
preconceived
notions
and
listen
carefully,
but
we
must
also
love
them
supremely
to
understand
deeply.
When
we
honestly
love
our
spouse
then
it
should
not
be
difficult
to
listen
carefully
to
what
they
have
to
say.
If
we
value
them
as a
person
then
we
must
value
their
communica-
tion.
Understanding
the
words
and
meanings
of
our
husband
or
wife
is
the
most
important
part
of
listening.
If
we
can
master
this
vital
part
of
communication
then
we
can
go
a
long
way
toward
solving
the
problems
that
confront
the
home
on a
daily
basis. Remember, "Listen until you understand completely what is
being
said".
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