I recently heard this quote at church that gave me some insight: “To listen silently is to deny oneself briefly, we give up the right to sound wise and clever.”1
This reminds me that we do not only listen to others in order to hear what they say. It’s not just about receiving information. Rather, when we listen to someone, we show them honor and respect. It’s a way to do what the Apostle Paul exhorts in Philippians 2:3-4, “…in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” More than that, it’s a way to follow Jesus who says in Luke 9:23, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Therefore, good listening involves humbling oneself and really caring for another. It prepares children not only for the classroom, but also for life.
While we may endeavor to teach this at school and even model it for them, the best heart instruction comes at home, by the example set by parents. The extent to which I deny myself and listen to my wife will have the most profound impact on my child’s ability to truly listen. The school can only do so much; family is an institution of God. At TCS,
we work hard to train your children, but we believe your home, not the school, will have the greatest impact on their future joy and success.
To that end, Trinity Presbyterian Church has partnered with TCS to provide a marriage conference to serve the families in our school community, and then others in the greater community. I am personally very excited about this year’s speaker, whom I have previously heard at a large conference on the mainland, and whose books have
instructed my heart. Scotty Smith has faithfully denied himself, listened to God’s Word, and been richly blessed
with an ability to share great truths from a humble heart. I invite you to register quickly before the conference fills up.
See below for scholarships to the first 15 parents. Child care signup is here.
In Christ,
Stephen Sprague
Headmaster
1 Dan Doriani, author and professor at Covenant Seminary in St. Louis