“I Want to Be Seen, Heard, and Enjoyed.”

You want to look good and sound smart. You want to be helpful.
You like fixing problems.
You give quick, simple answers.

You act that way, thinking you will be “seen, heard, and enjoyed,” too.

You listen until you hear a problem.
You love problems. You fix problems. You walk around with a toolbox of answers.
They include health, religion, finances, fitness, healthy eating, and more.

I want to talk and explore my feelings. I want you to listen.
I am trying to understand myself, my struggles, and my God.
I need to talk through my issues.

You need a problem to fix.
Sometimes I feel like a problem you are trying to fix.

Then, when you tell me how to fix it and I don’t, you get mad.
So you give me another solution, and another, and another.
When you can’t fix me, you become frustrated.

Then one day, out of sheer exhaustion, you pronounce me “unfixable.”

Close-

Sometimes the greatest gift we can give another person is not our advice. It’s our presence and childlike curiosity.

Remember, “I just want to be seen, heard, and enjoyed.”

I’ll take it from there.

Prayer-

Father, help me resist the urge to fix every problem. Help me to be more curious and restful. Amen.

Scripture

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” — James 1:19 (NIV)