I’ve just finished New York Times bestselling author, Karen Ehman’s newest book, Listen, Love, Repeat: Other-Centered Living in a Self-Centered World. (For your future fun: I will be giving away a copy along with the Listen, Love, Repeat Study Guide with DVD later this month).
I became acquainted with Karen’s work through Proverbs 31 Ministries. Over the past few years I’ve enjoyed studying some of her ten books, including Let It Go: How to Stop Running the Show & Start Walking in Faith and Keep It Shut: What to Say, How to Say It & When to Say Nothing at All.
Karen is a speaker for Proverbs 31 Ministries. She also writes for the online devotional, Encouragement for Today. She met her husband, Todd, while in college and they have three children. Karen draws from her experiences as a wife and mother and shares what she’s learned so that her readers can grow to be more like Jesus. You can connect with Karen through her website, www.karenehman.com.
Karen’s down-home style makes for a relaxed read. She draws her reader in with the warmth of a gracious hostess and you feel like you’re sitting around her cherished and well-used kitchen island enjoying little bites of quick wit and wisdom. You can tell that she values relationships and believes that through relationships we can all experience what ancient philosophers called “the greatest good.” In fact, she shares this belief throughout Listen, Love, Repeat.
Through the pages of her newest book, Karen stresses the need to look beyond our self-centered world. She encourages us to pay attention to others and listen for their “heart drops.”
Heart drops are “… when a person, either directly or in a cryptic way, gives you a peek into his or her heart. It may be through actual words, or you may pick up on a feeling, perhaps sadness or loneliness” (Karen Ehman, 2016, page 15).
When we hear the heart drops of others we can choose to honor them in some way. Through a small gift, card, or kind word, we have an opportunity to connect with their heart drop and touch them deeply for Jesus. Using her life examples and biblical accounts, Karen helps us to understand why we’re here and what God really wants from our lives.
This book deals with being kind, hospitable and loving to those God brings across our paths. Karen writes of a time when a neighbor decided to end her life. This account underscored the importance of lay down “too busy” and taking time to pick up on “heart drops.” That’s where God lives. That’s where God wants to minister through us. If we ignore those around us we miss the opportunity to shine His light in lonely and desperate hearts.
Through Listen, Love, Repeat, Karen once again is a shining example of how important it is to honor our families. She shows through her thoughtful actions, her deep love and desire to connect with her family in a God-honoring and profound way.
Karen doesn’t just share what we should do; she shows us what to do by giving us practical ways to listen to others, love them through our actions and make a difference for Jesus. After all, that’s why we’re here. God wants to use us to touch others.
I recommend this book to all my family and friends. It is a timely read for the upcoming holiday season. There are so many who lose hope during this time of year. Karen breaks down in simple suggestions how we can reach out to other during this season and throughout the year.
When you read it, make sure you have a marker in hand. It just may be while you’re cozied around that kitchen island the Holy Spirit will speak to you. He spoke to me: “Carla, this is a wise statement. You need to mark it and remember it. It’s going to come in handy one day.”
