Did you ever notice that the things we teach others are often the things we need to learn? The encouragement we offer friends and family who are hurting boomerangs to lift our own hearts.

I counseled a friend the other day who felt guilty about not spending enough time in the nursing home with her mother. Well acquainted with that brand of guilt, the words that poured out of me to my friend were, “How many hours would be enough for her or for you?”

“No number would ever seem like enough.”

I don’t know if my caring friend’s guilt lifted a little, but mine did! No matter how many hours I spend at my mom’s side, it can never feel adequate. Longing trumps hours logged.

When a fellow writer mourned that it was hard to write when she wasn’t “feelin’ it,” my heart responded…and it taught me what I needed to hear. That email post became a guest blog on the “Ask the Pros” section of Mary DeMuth’s blog for wannabe writers.

http://wannabepublished.blogspot.com/2009/11/afp-president-of-acfw-cynthia-ruchti.html

Lesson of the day? If you’re moved to counsel someone, keep your own ears open. It might be just what YOU needed to hear.