"We have two eyes and just one tongue, which means we need to look twice and talk once. We have two ears and just one mouth, so we need to listen twice as much as we speak." my friend Grace said this.

There is a divine presence that lives within us that we need to see before we talk. In addition, we need to hear what that inner presence is saying before we speak. With our two eyes and ears, we need to focus twice as much on the inward divinity before we decide to speak.

We must first see the goodwill, kindness, meekness, gentleness, joy, and goodness in ourselves and others before we speak. Likewise, we must listen with self-control, patience, kindness, and goodwill before we respond with a spoken word. We want to see and to hear with the inner qualities of love, peace, faith, and perseverance. That is what turns the few words that we speak into the seed that edifies the garden of souls.

Hard, cruel, hateful words create negative feelings of despair in thoughts and emotions. We need to speak fewer words to be able to see when others need our love, kindness, smiles, and hug. Likewise, when we close our mouth and listen to others from the divinity in us healing comes. That healing comes because listening allows others to vent their emotions and thoughts. It is physically healthy for us and others to see and listen before we speak.

Sometimes people need to experience peace, quiet, and tranquility in their day to day living experiences. When we speak fewer words, our eyes can see the meek, gentle, atmosphere of peace, which is soothing. Likewise, when our mouth is closed, we can hear the serene tranquility of calm in human relations. Seeing and listening twice as much as we speak will add a sense of peace within a need to feel secure.

Sometimes we just want to belong in a social environment where love is the source of our acceptance. Speaking less enables us to see when others need to feel that they are loved and are accepted by people of goodwill. That loving response does more than words to let someone know they are wanted. Likewise, with a mouth closed, we can hear the voices of those seeking love, acceptance, and a place to belong.

People need to know that they have a value to the social network of the community. When we speak fewer words it help us to humble ourselves to see the divine presence that is within one another. Likewise, with a mouth closed, we can hear the value that others feel for themselves within an atmosphere of tolerance. When we speak less we see and hear more from the divine presence in us. That is why the esteem we give to one another increases.

People need the opportunity to express themselves in word and deed. When we speak less that enables us to see the deeds that come through the behaviors of others. Likewise, with a mouth closed we are able to hear the words of each other's verbal expression. That goodwill in allowing others to speak, and perform, creates an atmosphere of sharing and fellowship in word and deed.

Some people continually talk because they want to deny us the ability to see and hear. Their intent is to keep us blind and deaf to the divinity that lives within one another. They reason that if we cannot see or hear divine qualities, then we will be prone to anger and depression. They have no desire for mutual relations where we all can see and hear to improve love, peace, faith, and perseverance. However, only by accepting the divinity in us will we be able to see and hear to speak an edifying word.

As Grace said, “We have two eyes and just one tongue, which means we need to look twice and talk once. We have two ears and just one mouth, so we need to listen twice as much as we speak.”