Blog 3540 – 07.14.2025

Children Will Listen

Yesterday, I wrote about how important our words are to our children and our grandchildren. They and everyone need to hear encouraging words. Heaven knows there are enough discouraging words out there. Today’s song, actually two songs sung together, by Josh Groban, speak to this subject quite well.

Children will not always obey, and though they sometimes act as if they are not listening, “Children Will Listen.” Our attitude toward those we love, especially our children and our grandchildren should be that of the second song, “Not While I’m Around.”

A favorite quote from a favorite movies comes to mind from An Unfinished Life. Einar Gilkyson is an angry and broken man after the death of his only son, who has also lost his long time wife. His only remaining friend says she left him to find someone who would pay attention to her and not continue grieving over an unfinished life, trying to drown his sorrows in a bottle. Einar blames his son’s wife because she fell asleep at the wheel driving them back from a rodeo flipping the car several times. Though she survived the accident, Griff, Einsar’s son did not

Unbeknownst to Einar his daughter-in-law was pregnant at his son’s funeral. She leaves town shortly thereafter. Ten years later after a series of abusive boyfriends she shows up at his door with a ten year old daughter asking for a place to stay for a month or two till she can earn enough money to get them settled somewhere else. The surprised grandpa talking with his new granddaughter about her mother’s boyfriends asks her if one of her mother’s boyfriends beat her as well as her mother and she replies, “No, Gary, was just mean with his words, like you.”

Children really do listen. Therefore we should be mindful of and loving with our words.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White

Josh Groban – Children Will Listen / Not While I’m Around (Visualizer)

Josh Groban – Children Will Listen / Not While I’m Around (Visualizer)