You know how some people are naturally good at all the things you tend to struggle with?
Well, I can’t take a hint.
But let me clarify. When I really try to read between the lines, or concentrate on what a person could probably mean by what he’s saying or doing, then I can sometimes guess at what is not said. But I’m not naturally inclined to think anything past exactly what is said.
This trait has surely kept me from gossip more times than I realize, but it has also led me into some more uncomfortable situations where I end up being tactless or rude simply because I can’t take a hint.
In those situations, I feel extra horrible when I’m unintentionally hurtful, and a little sheepish for missing something other people seem to have no trouble spotting.
I’ve been told it’s a certain “sensitivity,” or “intuition,” some people have, where they are able to read people well enough to spot pain or suffering without any words being exchanged.
I want that skill.
This month’s LifeTrac article, Suffering in Silence, focuses on learning how to notice and recognize the things people around us aren’t saying. It’s a shifting of focus, from internal to external. While we may never fully understand what people are going through, we can still do our best to be a support and help them bear their burdens, as we’re commanded to do (Galatians 6:2).
Check out this month’s LifeTrac article and let us know what you think! What are some ways you’ve learned to recognize the silent signals in those around you?
By Robyn Roste
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