My Door Is Always Open

My very dear chum, and life long mentor posted something on her Facebook page with the request that if you feel the same as she does, you might pass this message along.  It struck me so deeply, and is such a profound message I felt I wanted to share it with each and every one of you.  

I have known Faith since I was eleven years old.  Since that time she has been a teacher, mentor, mother figure, and friend.  She currently lives in Brussels and serves the Lord, and all those with whom she comes into contact.  This was her post:
“My door is always open. My house is safe. Coffee could be on in a minute and my table (although messy sometimes) is a place of peace and non-judgment.
Anyone who needs to chat is welcome anytime. It’s no good suffering in silence. I have food in the fridge, coffee and tea in the cupboard, and listening ears or shoulders to cry on. I will always be here…you are always welcome!! I promise that you will have my undivided attention while we talk!
Could at least one friend please copy and re-post. We’re trying to demonstrate that someone is always listening!
Yes, it’s the way it should be.”

She, as usual is right.  Knowing someone is listening is the way it should be for every person.  Unfortunately, that is not always the case, and thus we have confused and angry people flooding into the streets all over the world screaming and rioting and creating chaos and most of it is because those same people don’t think anyone is listening to them.  They don’t “feel” heard.  I am not in anyway excusing their destructive, and sometimes violent behavior, but could it all have been avoided if each person knew there was at least someone who was listening…someone who heard their heart?  I wonder.

You probably know people who could use a listening ear or a place that is safe to talk about things that are troubling them.  A place where the door is always open, a cup of coffee or tea is always available, and someone who cares is there.  Let those people in your life know that you are willing to be that place.  Really this is just showing true hospitality.

You may need to be listened to and  your chums would like you to know we always love to hear from you. ….those of you we know personally and those we have yet to meet face to face.  Please know this is a safe place for you to leave your comments.

If we all took just a little time to listen to each other, to truly be a friend, what a difference it could make to our families, our communities, and our world.  There would be so much more love, more joy and lives that are abundant in every way.