Listen

lis⋅ten: verb, to pay attention; heed; obey (often fol. by to): Children don't always listen to their parents.

I watched my adorable little niece today. She is so sweet and so funny. And she has a little bit of an attitude.

For example:
Kapria- walks over to the stairs and then looks at me.
Me - "Kapria, we need to stay down here. The boys are sleeping. You can go up later."
K - starts climbing the stairs and then looks at me.
Me - "Kapria, please stay with Aunt Nicole." (why do we talk about ourselves in the 3rd person?)
K- keeps climbing higher and then looks at me.
Me - "Kapria, please come back."
K - just stands there looking at me, deciding whether she's going to listen. And then she keeps climbing.
Me - Go get her and block the stairs.

It was pretty funny. Especially the look she would give me. The look that said "I know what you are saying and I'm thinking about it, but really I'm not going to listen to you."

I wonder how often I do that to Heavenly Father. I say "I hear you and I understand you, but I don't really want to do what you say." And then he has to block my path with some kind of trial, or detour, which is something he would rather not do, but he has to because I wouldn't listen.

For me ~ listening = hearing + doing.

Isnt' it wonderful what you can learn from an 18 month old.