Practicing What You Preach

This year I’ve gotten so many opportunities to teach and even to preach on a Sunday. It’s been over two years since I taught. I was trying to be obedient to the Lord and a gentle pull toward teaching again. I have enjoyed myself more than I have imagined I would.

An interesting dynamic I’ve found was when I was speaking on a subject, I received ample opportunity to practice what I preached. When I spoke on forgiveness, I found that I had many an opportunity to keep short accounts and forgive. I found myself repeatedly getting upset with people. When I realized what was happening it made it easier.

Last weekend I spoke on spiritual listening. Listening values others and expresses to them what they have to say matters. It’s important to listen especially when someone may have trouble expressing themselves clearly. At work I was tested in that area. Part of my job is to call new patients that are being referred by other offices for appointments. I called this gentleman who had trouble hearing. The conversation went something like this:

Me: “Good afternoon sir. I’m calling from Dr. C’s office. Your doctor wanted me to call you for an appointment.”

Man: “What kind of doctor is he?”

Me: “He is a neurologist.”

Man: “An urologist.”

Me: “No, a neurologist.”

Man: “An urologist.”

Me: “A neurologist.” (Now I’m trying to speak as loud and gently as I could. The ladies I work with are laughing their butts off which didn’t help the situation.)

Man: “An urologist.”

Me: “Sir is there someone there I can speak to that might hear me better?”

Man: Yeah, speak to my wife. (As he hands her the phone I hear him say, “Honey it’s some gal from the urologist office calling to make an appointment.”)

My husband spoke last Sunday about relationships and the difference between a man and a boy. Check here to read part of what he spoke about it was excellent. He also read from a small section from Dr. Willard Harley’s book, His Needs/Her Needs. He talked about the five basic needs of a man and the five basic needs of a woman in a relationship. You could hear a pin drop. Many folks went home and put into action what they heard. I have to tell you, so did Tom. Starting with Sunday, he showed me how much he loved me everyday. We had such a busy weekend with the class that I was part of and I was tired. After some running around, he rubbed my back and just loved on me. Monday he came by my job and went to lunch with me. Tuesday he cooked me a really nice dinner. Wednesday we had some folks over for dinner and I walked in and noticed first chocolates (my favorite kind) and then the wonderful red roses you see pictured above. The man put into practice what he preached this week. I’m blessed to married to such a man who is not afraid to express his love for me.

So what are you preaching on?

© Nadine Z. 2007