Take a close look at the graphic for today’s blog. Do you see what I see … the shape etched in that insignificant stone? When I saw it during my early morning walk a few days ago, I stopped and stared and yes, took a photo.
There’s a heart shape outlined in that stone. It’s not perfect, but it’s there.
I look for heart shapes hidden in nature during my daily walks. (Waving at my writer-friend, Betsy Haddox, who inspired me to do this.) I don’t find them every day, but when I do, it’s like a whispered, “I love you” from God.
To find hidden hearts, I have to be intentional. Purposeful.
To find my way into another person’s heart I have to be intentional too. The best way to do that? To be more interested in someone else — what they’re thinking, what they care about — than I am about myself.
It’s so easy to go into a new relationship, a friendship, thinking, “Will they like me? What should I say? What should I do?” Once started on the me-focused path, it’s all the easier to stay centered on me-myself-and-I.
But if I want to discover another person’s heart, I need to purpose to think more about who they are, what they like, what they’ve shared with me in the past — and turn the conversation, the questions to them, and away from me.
In Your Words: How do you show interest in another person, either early on in a friendship/relationship, or when a relationship is a longstanding one?
In Others' Words: Are You Interested? http://bit.ly/2JWOW2w #relationships #perspective Click To Tweet 'The portal into people's hearts is being interested in them.' Quote by Peter Gruber http://bit.ly/2JWOW2w #relationships #hearts Click To Tweet
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Comments 14
Our role in the woof and warp of God’s tapestry is defined by connexion, not position.
Author
Amen, Andrew, amen. God is a God of relationship …
Beautiful words. And an excellent truth to keep in mind, especially in a world where networking and platform building is emphasized so much. But the truth is I actually find it so much easier to be interested in someone else than it is to make myself interesting. People really are fascinating creatures! Thanks Beth!
Author
Lori: It’s true — other people are so, so interesting. I love learning other people’s stories. I’m always intrigued … amazed …sometimes amused or touched … by others’ stories.
“To find hidden hearts, I have to be intentional. Purposeful.” I love that you daily look for hearts. What great training for looking deeper into those around you. There are so many things in life that we need a trained, yes, purposeful eye to see.
Your last many posts seem to be playing within this theme of paying attention.
If I look at my own behavior, I’d have to say that it’s easier to look more deeply for the story of someone new in my life. I would bet that I tend to assume things of those I’ve known longest. I know my past dealings with them, have witnessed their behavior, have heard what they’ve shared over the years and how they’ve share. I wonder, does that put a filter over how I see them, how I listen? Does it dull my curiosity?
Author
Bernadette: How insightful! I do believe we can be more purposeful to listen to the stories of new people in our lives and assume we know the stories of the people we have more established relationships with!
be present and stay present with the heart of a loved one or friend
Author
Denise: So well said! <3
This reminder about how to have meaningful relationships never gets old – care about the other person.
Author
Agreed, Kim … especially nowadays, we need this reminder more and more.
Great reminder, thank you
Author
🙂 Thanks, Rose.
The gift of caring… Great perspective, Beth. Thank you for sharing this.
Author
Thanks for joining the conversation, Diane.