Speaking with Assurance, Listening with Attentiveness

Sometimes, when you’re with the person you provide care for, it’s hard to find the right words to say. Our conversations often revolve around to-do lists, people to see, and places to go. These are hardly the most important subjects we could be discussing.

Other relatives and friends may stay away because they don’t know what to say. We’re the caregivers, though. We can’t stay away. So how can we speak in a way that encourages? By asking God in prayer to give us the words to say, drawing on His wisdom and power, instead of our own.

He may call us to read His Word, sing a hymn, or pray with the person. I love you are three little words that speak volumes. And then there are times when the best way to communicate is to actually be silent—and to listen to what the other person wants to say to us.

The right words can be uplifting and comforting to the person we care for. With God’s direction, we’ll be able to say just what our loved one needs. Or simply listen attentively—with our ears and with our hearts.