Women and Their Words

The longest recorded conversation that Jesus had was with a woman.  That may not surprise a man, but it may surprise a woman.  I googled “Women and talking” and it quickly brought up over 47 million results!  Some of the titles were very interesting:  “Women Talk Too Much,”  “Women Talk Three Times as Much as Men,” and “How to Talk to Women: 18 Steps (With Pictures).”  In reading these articles I first learned that on an average day a woman speaks 20,000 words, while a man will use only 7,000.   I also discovered that there is a language protein called FOXP2, which involves “vocalization.”  A study of 4 and 5 year old children found that the girls had 30% more of this language protein than the boys.  Of course, that is only one study, but all one has to do is hang out at a Starbucks for a day, and you will observe that women generally are more verbal, yet there are some men who are closing the gap on vocalizing, if you know what I mean?  Obviously Jesus did not need to read an article giving Him 18 steps in how to communicate with a woman.

Jesus not only had the longest conversation with a woman, but He also communicated with more women than anyone else in the New Testament.  The one He spoke with the longest remains nameless.  We only know her as the Samaritan woman who happened upon a thirsty Jesus.  He spoke first, which was scandalous in their day because a Jewish man would never speak to a Samaritan, let alone a Samaritan woman.  When he spoke He didn’t talk about Himself as much as He asked questions about her and her life.  Through the course of their conversation the woman tried to argue, make excuses and even be deceptive.  But in the end, Jesus broke through to the woman’s thirsting heart.  He asked her for water to quench his physical thirst, yet she was the one who had a thirst that only Jesus, the Living Water could satisfy.   Jesus looked past all her words straight into her heart and offered her the refreshing, restoring, and redeeming water of eternal life. 

Jesus not only talked with the chatty Samaritan woman, but He also listened to her as well.  So much of the time, as we listen to someone talk on and on, our eyes glaze over and our minds wander.  But, not so with Jesus!  He reads between the lines of our constant chatter and sees our thirsty condition.  Really no words are needed, Jesus sees the heart of every person and knows their deepest wounds, needs, and joys. He always offers us that which eternally satisfies: Himself. 

I am learning to talk less and listen more when it comes to the Lord.

“Don’t shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think. 

Don’t be too quick to tell God what you think he wants to hear. 

God’s in charge, not you – the less you speak, the better.” (MSG) Ecclesiastes 5:2

I am also trying to listen to those who speak, searching to know what it is they are thirsty for.  This week I participated in a small group retreat and had the opportunity to put this truth into practice.  Taking the time to truly listen to others I discovered that they struggle with some of the same things I struggle with, have some of the same hurts and wounds that I have, and they are seeking to know the Lord’s heart in the midst of all of it.  These retreat conversations increased my love for these women and encouraged me personally in my walk with Christ.  The Samaritan woman went back to her neighborhood to tell everyone she saw about this Jesus who knew all about her, yet listened to her, loved her, and quenched the thirst of her dehydrated heart.  Many believed in Jesus because of the conversation this nameless woman had with Jesus.

On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice,

“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”  John 7:37-38

Tired of the chatter? Then have a conversation with Jesus, allowing Him to ask you some tough, but revealing questions.  Answer Him honestly and then receive from Him the peace that is unexplainable and the love that satisfies like no other.  Then be sure and . . .

Tell somebody,

Nancy