Principal's Ponderings

Listening Like Jesus

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” – James 1:19

In a noisy world, truly listening is a radical act of love. Are you a good listener?

As parents and educators, we often feel the pressure to respond, to correct, to advise. But Jesus, our perfect example, listened first. He listened to the heart behind the words. He gave His full attention to children, to the hurting, to the outcast. And in doing so, He gave them dignity, presence, and love.

Listening, as Jesus modelled, is more than hearing, it’s a way of seeing people.

Here at Devonport, we’re teaching students that listening is a form of kindness. It is not just about being quiet, it is about honouring the person who is speaking. In classrooms, at playtime, in prayer, we are helping them learn that every person matters and listening is one of the clearest ways we can show that.

For parents, this practice is just as vital at home.

Sometimes our children do not need solutions. They need to feel safe enough to speak. They need to know that their thoughts and feelings, no matter how small or jumbled, are worth hearing. When we listen with empathy, not just waiting for our turn to speak, we give them a precious gift: our presence.

Have you noticed in the Bible how often Jesus answered people’s questions with questions? He invited them to explore what was really going on in their hearts. And when someone felt unseen, like Bartimaeus or the woman at the well, He stopped, listened and responded with compassion and truth.

Listening opens the door to healing.

In our homes, listening like Jesus means pausing what we are doing, looking our children in the eyes, and letting them finish their thoughts without interruption. It means listening to their fears without minimising them. It means creating space for them to express joy, sadness, questions, and curiosity, and knowing that the listening itself is powerful.

Sometimes, listening like Jesus means creating space to hear Him. Amongst all we do, school lunches, work emails, laundry, cleaning up, music lessons, and sports runs, we can forget to pause and hear the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit in our day. But He is always speaking, encouraging, guiding, convicting, and loving us.

This week, I encourage you to take a few moments each day to be intentionally quiet. With your child. With your spouse. With God. You may be surprised what you hear when you stop to listen.

Let’s be a community known for our words and our silence, for creating space where every child, every parent, every staff member, feels heard, seen, and valued. And we can try listening without judgement, with grace and love.

Listening is one of the purest ways we can love like Jesus.

With ears open and hearts full,

Chad