It would be rather unusual to talk with me at length and not hear about my friend Kathryn Tucker Windham, Storyteller – Selma, AL. It has been my distinct pleasure, and blessed experience, to be in her presence and to call her friend.
At the 2009 National Storytelling Festival, I delivered Ms. Kathryn to her Saturday morning performance and decided to stay and treat myself to a listen. As this ninety-one year old professional storyteller effortlessly navigated in and around one story and then another, I sensed I was in the right place in the right moment.
While I sensed purpose in that very moment, I was not completely certain what it was; until Kathryn began to talk about her father. Kathryn elegantly lives out the formula for happiness taught her by her father.
Listening
Honor the story of another – be a listener of that story. Intuitive listening opens the moment like nothing else.
Learning
In order to remember important things about another, you must listen deeply. Hearing their story creates connection that teaches.
Laughing
Be present with another person; being in another’s authentic presence gifts one with the confidence of good humor.
Loving
Love others for who they are. Tell them you love them and tell them often. In the three days of the festival, I am pretty sure Kathryn told me she loved me at least six times each day.
This was my attempt to define each of the 4 L’s as I think my friend Kathryn would. And I must admit now that I have done so, I have probably defined these more by how I see her live these out when in her presence.
I love you Kathryn.
Awesome, Jeff. Thanks for a pithy reminder of what counts in life. I could see Ms Kathryn in my mind’s eye as you wrote about her.
What great timing Jeff for this article (God at work). As I am in my second week of being a leader in our local Awana club these 4 reminders will assist me in building stronger relationships with my kindergarten kids.
Loved these encouraging words.
Love you Dad!
As always Jeff I find your posts insightful and they often reflect back to me something I have been overlooking. In this case it is something causing me to be out of balance. When I read this it reminded me of a lyric from a Mercyme song In The Blink Of An Eye “How can I further your kingdom when I am so caught up in mine”. That lyric has spoken to me from the moment I heard it and the correlation to this post of being in the present and giving that moment in time all you have. To be part of something bigger really hit home for me. I have been so busy lately that I have short changed all four L’s in my professional and sadly in my personal life. Oddly enough when I ignore the four L’s I feel drained and get further out of balance. Your words and light provide so much too so many thanks for sharing and guiding.
Jeff,
Isn’t it ironic how being around someone who “gets it”, leads us into a place where we feel as though we are beginning to “get it” too?
I love how God places people in our path to show us glimpses of Himself. The present of being present is such a wonderful thing. Thank you for living these four L’s out with me and for being my friend.
Blessings to you!
Being present, authentic and really listening… what great advice… something I am sure we all know, but must be reminded of to keep us accountable to building better skills in this arena. Thanks Jeff for always inspiring the better part of me!!
A J
[...] She listened to us. She learned from what she heard. I also remember having a wonderful time searching for homes with Anne – we laughed. And it was obvious that Anne loved what she did. Anne lived out the 4L’s modeled by my friend Kathryn Tucker Windham. [...]