Listening

Lenten Reflection #2

February 19, 2026

Yesterday, at the end of my first-grade Spanish class, I asked the students if anyone would like to share a story about their weekend or anything at all. Wesley went first and proudly announced he had “Five playdates! Five!” Elizabeth glanced around cautiously and whispered, “My mom is going to have a baby.” Caroline followed, saying, “Actually, me and my family are deciding whether we should have another baby, or not.” Suddenly, rapid chatter about babies and moms and lots of something-doodle puppies followed. I raised my hand up in the air with the quiet peace sign symbol, and shushed the room. Frustrated, six-year-old Josie looked around and, in her raspy voice, said loudly, “We have to listen!”

Silence was restored (pretty much).

“Josie is right,” I said. Then asked, “But why is it important to listen to each other? Why does it matter?”

We went around the circle.

Here are their responses:

If you listen, you could learn something new.

If you listen really well, you can ask questions.

If you listen, the person talking won’t have to repeat it.

If you listen, you won’t forget.

When you DON’T listen, you might make someone feel bad.

When you DO listen, the person knows the thing you said matters.

Finally, the last student said, “My mom has her own business, so it’s hard for her to listen; she’s on her phone a lot.” There were lots of “Mine too!” proclamations darting around the room.

Ouch.

Guilty. I thought about the gazillion times I went out for a run or vacuumed, or bustled around the house instead of sitting down and really listening. That window of time when your kids really want you to listen closes quickly; don’t miss it.

WHAT I LEARNED:

• I have learned that with younger kids, the most powerful lever parents and teachers have is their attention. They want us to listen, to watch, to send energy their way. I wrote more about showing up for our kids here, in Watch Him Take the Shot!
• Pope Leo said, “The willingness to listen is the first way we demonstrate our desire to enter into a relationship with someone.”
• “Blessed are you who stay. Who sit beside pain that cannot be fixed… Who bear witness… Try to listen. Try to love in the absence of tidy outcomes“. – Kate Bowler
• Any time spent with others listening, sharing, and connecting is an investment in every relationship we have. Listen now if you have young kids; consider it money in the bank, an investment in your relationship. Listen now if you have older parents; their stories will soon be told for the last time. Listen to your hearts. Set the phone down, look up, pray, give thanks, and be present.

Thanks for joining me.

I’m so glad you’re here,

Lucretia