Side note

Through this trial, The Lord has brought me to Proverbs again. I believe it is time to start seeking wisdom and knowledge through studying His word and spending time with Him. I know who He is, and I love Him with my entire being. For this reason, I know that it is time to dive deeper. It is time to learn how to respond to His love, His actions, and His commands. 

Listening vs. Hearing

There is a very distinct difference between listening and hearing: effort. I'm starting to think it's impossible for me to have friendships anymore because of this difference. I run on others' emotions. If I intentionally give you a piece of my heart and you reply with one word and a change of subject, there is going to be a bump in the road of our friendship. Emotions are natural, and I know how to feel them pretty well. Emotions are a huge part of who we are as humans. Embracing the fact that we all have the same emotions is fundamental in creating lasting relationships. So if you don't put forth any emotional effort in our friendship, don't expect it to last. I simply cannot remain close with people who don't empathize with me. 

I don't trust many people with my heart, so if I give you a piece of it, please don't take it for granted.