Willingness To Listen

Viktor Frankl, one of the great psychiatrists of the twentieth century, survived the death camps of Nazi Germany. His little book, Man’s Search for Meaning, is one of those life-changing books that everyone should read.

Frankl once told the story of a woman who called him in the middle of the night to calmly inform him she was about to commit suicide. Frankl kept her on the phone and talked her through her depression, giving her reason after reason to carry on living. Finally she promised she would not take her life, and she kept her word.

When they later met, Frankl asked which reason had persuaded her to live?
"None of them", she told him.
What then influenced her to go on living, he pressed?

Her answer was simple, it was Frankl’s willingness to listen to her in the middle of the night.

A world in which there was someone ready to listen to another's pain seemed to her a world in which it was worthwhile to live.

Often, it is not the brilliant argument that makes the difference. Sometimes the small act of listening is the greatest gift we can give.

Listen to Everyone.

Most Important Part of Body!!!

My mother used to ask me what is the most important part of the body. Through the years I would take a guess at what I thought was the correct Answer..

When I was younger, I thought sound was very important to us as humans, so I said, 'My ears, Mommy..'

She said, 'No. Many people are deaf. But you keep thinking about it and I will ask you again soon..'

Several years passed before she asked me again. Since making my first attempt, I had contemplated the correct answer..

So this time I told her, 'Mommy, sight is very important to everybody, so it must be our eyes..'

She looked at me and told me, 'You are learning fast, but the answer is not correct because there are many people who are blind..'

Stumped again, I continued my quest for knowledge and over the years, Mother asked me a couple more times and always her answer was, 'No. But you are getting smarter every year, my child..'

Then one year, my grandfather died. Everybody was hurt. Everybody was crying. Even my father cried..

I remember that especially because it was only the second time I saw him cry..

My Mom looked at me when it was our turn to say our final good-bye to my Grandfather..

She asked me, 'Do you know the most important body part yet, my dear??'

I was shocked when she asked me this now. I always thought this was a game between her and me..

She saw the confusion on my face and told me, 'This question is very important. It shows that you have really lived in your life. For every body part you gave me in the past, I have told you were wrong and I have given you an example why..

But today is the day you need to learn this important lesson..'

She looked down at me as only a mother can. I saw her eyes well up with tears. She said, 'My dear, the most important body part is your shoulder..'

I asked, 'Is it because it holds up my head??'

She replied, 'No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend or a loved one when they cry. Everybody needs a shoulder to cry on sometime in life, my dear. I only hope that you have enough love and friends that you will always have a shoulder to cry on when you need it..'

Then and there I knew the most important body part is not a selfish one. It is made for others and not for yourself. It is sympathetic to the pain of others..

People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did . But people will NEVER forget how you made them feel..

Good friends are like stars. You don't always see them, but you always know they are there for you....

Friends please comment regarding the posts...
Do you like it??!!