When I Should’ve Kept Quiet
By Jimmie Aaron Kepler

We were sitting at breakfast—me and a longtime friend I’ve been blessed to sometimes travel with. Just friends, nothing more. She’s smart as a whip, well-read, full of stories, a beautiful woman both inside and out, and patient—especially with me.

Now, I have this bad habit. I talk too much. Always have. Even back in grade school, I missed the honor roll more than once because of a C in citizenship—too social, they said. Some bosses said the same years later. Too many words, not enough listening. Even put it on my annual review.

That morning, between bites of scrambled eggs and sips of coffee, she finally spoke up after I’d been rambling on, chasing one story after another. She smiled, gentle but firm, and said, “Jimmie, you don’t need to tell your whole life story every time. Sometimes, just respond to what I’m saying. Don’t chase rabbits.”

It stung, because she was right.

See, I’ve interrupted stories, cut off people mid-sentence—not out of malice, but because I thought I was connecting or helping. Truth is, I wasn’t listening. I was showing off. Or maybe showing my loneliness. Either way, I wasn’t being kind. I wasn’t being present.

I remember my grandma once told me, “Jimmie Aaron, the girls don’t care how much you know or where you’ve been. They want a man who listens and says nice, honest things about them. That’s why they like the strong, silent type.”

Lord knows, I should’ve taken her advice to heart.

Recently, I read a verse that brought all this back to mind:

“But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s command was, ‘Do not answer him.’” — Isaiah 36:21 ESV

Sometimes the wisest thing to say is nothing at all.

There’s power in silence. Wisdom, too. I’ve learned that when I talk too much, I crowd out other people’s hearts—and sometimes, even God’s voice. You can’t listen and talk at the same time.

So now, I’m working on that. Less rambling. More listening. Fewer rabbits. More respect. And I have my friend to thank for caring enough to point out an area I really need to work on everyday.

And when the moment calls for it, I ask God to give me the grace to shut my mouth and open my ears.

Grace and Peace,
Jimmie

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