Susan,

I always love your thoughts.....your compassion for others.....your ability to listen to what they have to say & not put your own definition on what they say but truely listen to the words & hear the content.

Having someone to listen to what you have to say is very very important.....not even requiring any response of anything....just listening.....enables the person who is communicating to express the thoughts & feelings that are inside of them & to get them out into the reality of words that firm up the meaning those thoughts that otherwise float around in ones head. Listening enables the person who is communication to organize their thoughts & while doing that, it's amazing, but it usually creates even more thoughts & idea which continue to grow out of the seed that they started with. Listening enables others thinking along with our own...because we are having to think about what they are saying so that if we do have feedback......whether in agreement or to offer another point of view on the subject....it is all part of the art of communicating which builds our thinking & reasoning skills & enables growth.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with that type of enabling.....the only enabling which becomes a problem is when someone is on the wrong path & we continue to support the path they are on.........that would come under the situation of not providing feedback to their communication when there is something that we disagree with & feel that they really need to hear another point of view in hopes that they can get unstuck from the thought process they are in which is leading them in a wrong direction......providing that alternate point of view doesn't by any means force them to change their thinking....but to plant the seed of thought that there is another way of looking at the situation or thought that has been expressed. There will always be the freewill there on their part as to what they choose to do with the point of view that differs from theirs...& sometimes, that seed needs to sit there awhile for them to think about & ponder on......so it doesn't mean immediate change even when we do present the differing thought.....so it may seem at the time that we are continuing to enable thinking that isn't what we feel is right......but one never knows what the long term effect will be on a differing idea being expressed.

Listening & allowing (enabling) a person to express their feelings & thoughts is the most wonderful gift you can give to anyone.....you post is beautiful as are you. Your brother is blessed to have your support & your being there to listen.....& you are also blessed by him to be able to hear the thoughts & insights that he has to provide that they won't be lost into a void.

Keep enabling each others communications & the world (your worlds) will be a better place....also sharing your insights as you have here we are all blessed & enabled to think & be better in our relationships with others.

Bless you,
Debbie