Who Are You Listening To?

               Prayer is when you talk to God;meditation is when you listen to God. ~ Diana Robinson


I was a new nurse 10 years ago in a correctional setting. I had noticed how easier the job was compared to what I did at the hospital. No more lifting patients. No more putting extremities back on CPM’s [Complete Passive Movement Machine] after the patients’ total knee replacements. No more turning of post-op patients side to side at least every 2 hours to prevent skin breakdown. Not that I hated those as an Orthopedic nurse. But because I couldn’t do it anymore after sustaining a neck injury in 1997, after lifting a patient who just had a back surgery. Despite me being aware of using good body mechanics, my neck was injured.

“Don’t work with Nurse P.,” warned one of the new co-workers. “He’s grumpy and just hard to work with,” she added in a whisper.

That was what stood out after being oriented in a few weeks. The job was not hard. It was the people. People who loved to back stab others and in their presence, lauded them with praises. People who loved to see someone messed up and was so sure to talk about it when it occurred. People who always checked for what kind of phones co-workers were using. Brand names of purses. Expensive watches. The kind of cars they drove. The kind of life they lived outside. Interested to know if a co-worker was divorced. That they were having problems with not only with their mates but with kids if they had kids. Those were the obvious things I saw, heard, sensed and experienced.

“Thanks for your warning,” I replied. “But I prefer to form my own opinion of people. I would rather meet them and be able to work with them.”

So I did. With Nurse P. And he was a great co-worker. We worked harmoniously. We were a great team when we had man downs. We finished early with our morning sick calls because we split the work. There was no whining. Whoever was available and could, one of us would just do the work. And we earned more than what we were making, pay period to pay period. We earned respect. Toward each other. Nurse P. had been retired. And I was glad that I never listened to that damaging warning.

How about you? Who are you listening to? Are you listening to this world’s point of views? Or are you listening to God?

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”
~ John 10:27-28[NIV]



17 comments:

  1. Ooooh, do I ever love this post! I've found myself 'in the middle' of people; warnings from one about the other from both sides. I just love them both and will make a call on how they treat ME.

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  2. this is a great post. thanks for sharing your thoughts! I was reading Colossians 3 this morning. "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." Keeping our eyes on Him and caring about what He is saying and doing in our lives!

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  3. Rosel,

    Too often the world has formed their own opinions of who we should be friends with and those we should avoid. I prefer like you to see what God's purpose is for me in their lives. Sandpaper people work wonders to sand and buff away at those rough edges in my own life.

    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

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  4. I can learn from your thoughts here Rosel. Thank you for sharing. Blessings.

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  5. You teach us all great lessons sis, love you.

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  6. How easy it is to fall prey to another's opinion, or to form judgments based on their biases. How wise, and such a good reminder to listen to the vertical before giving the horizontal an ear.

    It's also a good reminder to ME to let other people figure things out on their own.

    Hugs,
    Kathleen

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  7. I loved your post and video. I just don't know how you find all the great videos. Blessings, sweet friend ~

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  8. What a great post Rosel! So often we listen to people and NOT the Lord about so many issues! Self esteem in people are just awful! But if we only knew how the Lord saw us and Loved us and how special we were in HIS eyes! What an amazing world and loving joyful people we would be!

    Love you Rosel....thank you yet again for sharing your teaching gift with sooo many! You bless me so!

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  9. I want my ears to be attuned to ONLY the voice of God. Great post Sister.

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  10. Keep those ears toward Heaven. "My sheep know me and hear my voice".
    Bren

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  11. Hey Rosel!

    Wonderful post sister and such an important reminder to listen with our heart first and then respond accordingly. Your words always encourage me so! Bless you!!

    Luv, Hugs and Sweet Blessings!
    Jackie

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  12. great post. I work in a hospital...and have learned to never read charts before I meet the person and judge for myself. I want to form my own opinions....and think the best of people not the worst. Stay strong out there..You inspire.

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  13. This was a great reminder. It is soo easy to listen to the thoughts of others without then really listening to His thoughts. Thanks for this. Have a good day! HUGS AND BLESSINGS

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  14. This is what I call "blood-tipped-ears".

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  15. This is a great post Rosel. Good for you for letting that person know that you would form your own opinion. If I am to be honest here, I have to say I have followed the wrong voice more than I would like to admit and regretted words that I never should have said.

    You are such an inspiration and role model.

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  16. I hope you're feeling better. Been praying for you. :)

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  17. Rosel, I am listening to God... Always. I pray through the good and the bad. Not just in time of need.

    Praying you are well soon. Love the cartoon pic, I need to find one like that for my hubby. He has really bad allergies too. Now my son is getting them. Hope you can rest and feel better soon. Love and Many Blessings, Audrey

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"Faith is taking the first step even if you don't see the whole staircase..."
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