Dale Carnegie, author of How To Win Friends and Influence People, is considered one of the greatest "friend winners" of the century. He taught, "You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by tring to get other people interested in you."
To illustrate his point, Carnegie would tell how dogs have learned the fine art of making friends better than most people. When you get within ten feet of a friendly dog, he will begin to wag his tail, a visible sign that he welcomes and enjoys your presence. If you take time to pet the dog, he will become excited , lick you, and jump all over you to show how much he appreciates you. The dog became man's best friend by being genuinely interested in people!
One of the foremost ways, of course, in which we show our interest in others is to listen to them--to ask questions, intently listen to their answers, and to ask further questions based upon what they say. The person who feels "heard" is likely to seek out his friendly listener again and again, and to count that person as a great friend.
Need a friend? Start listening with your heart.
Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.
James 1:19
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