love is being heard

What we need is for someone to listen to us, to hear us, and to make us feel that we are understood.  And before anyone is willing to allow you to speak into their life, if they don't feel you "get them," all your words will fall to the waist-side.  The most effective thing that you can do to help someone who is going through something difficult is to love them.  Love is not just to prescribe something, or to tell them what they need to do and not to do, it is simply to be present.  It is to have listening ears and a sympathetic heart.  Next time, instead of making a statement, ask a question.  Because how can you love someone if you don't first know or understand them?  Ask questions because that is one tangible way that people can feel loved.