I discovered that in life, we often rush into decisions without truly understanding the situation. I watched a program online about a young boy accused of beating his mother. Being in Africa, and particularly in our culture, it is considered taboo for a child to harm a parent, so the situation was tense from the start. The man interviewing the boy acted as if he wanted to punish him. He requested handcuffs, raised his voice, and appeared ready to discipline the child physically. At first, it seemed the situation might escalate.
However, the interviewer was doing more than reacting he was listening and also training the minds of the audience. When they asked the boy’s sister if he had ever behaved aggressively before, she explained that he had always been calm and well behaved. But after an encounter with policemen, who hit him on the head with a gun, he had spent some time in the hospital and began displaying unusual behavior. This insight helped the interviewer understand that the boy’s actions were not intentional but linked to trauma and mental stress.
By taking the time to truly listen, the man discovered the root of the problem. At the end of the session, he drew the boy close, hugged him twice, and reassured him. The boy started crying, overwhelmed that someone had heard and understood him. A medical team was then arranged to monitor and support him.
This experience reminds us of the importance of listening before taking action. Many people react too quickly, assuming they know the full story. But true listening allows us to understand context, respond wisely, and avoid causing unnecessary harm. Action without understanding can lead to regret, while careful listening can heal, protect, and even save lives.
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(The pictures above is a screenshot from the online interview from Facebook)