the gift of listening

The Gift of Listening

To :.......................

"This certificate entitles you to 15 minutes of my undivided attention. I will listen to you sincerely and not interrupt, and I'll only as questions if they would be helpful to you."

WHEN WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR GIFT? :-))

The Listener : .......................

on rainy Monday, 16:00 i was waiting for my friend, fera, for going home together by public bus from Karawaci to Jakarta. while i was waiting for her,i picked a newsletter issued by UPH Student and Alumni Services - The UPH Connection - Even this is a simple newsletter, sometimes just consist of 2 pages only, i always takes my time for reading this newsletter that issued weekly on Monday.

The head of the Student and Alumni Services, Mr.Robert W.Smith always write for the main articles in every issues of the newsletter. on the last edition for the year of 2004, he writes an article titled "Two Festivals
Called Christmas" on the 1st page. on that article,Mr.Bob writes about
his friend's taught that there are two christmas festivals going on at the same time. "Merry Christmas". This greeting can mean two entirely different things. One explanation has a Christian connection, and the other is non-Christian secular view. ough..what a nice article to raead on the occasion of Christmas 2005.

Pfuiih..!! time is going, and it was taking 10 minutes left for waiting my friend, and she haven't show up. i continue to read on the 2nd page of this newsletter. i never take a serious reading for this newsletter in the 2nd page, because on that part, the page just consist of 'commercials' related to student seminars, students activites,announcements, and another 'unimportant things' to read for me, at least.

but wait...i read in the corner of the 2nd page...a box of writings titled 'the gift of listening' (see above). this writings are contributed by Mr.Robert W.Smith, as a senior student counselor at UPH. this writings remind me the importance of taking time for listening to others, when they are sharing their problems, etc. Our presence for listening someone's problems is very important for giving him/her attention, so that we could help them to give suggestion to solve his/her problems. I think it's such a GIFT for others if you could have a sicere heart and ear to listen someone's problems.

on the next 5 minutes, fera is coming, and we continued to walk to the bus stop near uph campus. the last question stated on the corner of the newsletter still reverberated in my mind and my heart. WHEN WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR GIFT?