It's been said that when our mouths are open, our ears are shut. We cannot talk and listen at the same time! James wrote that a person should be quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19).

As wise King Solomon recognized, there is a time to be silent and a time to speak (Ecclesiastes 3:7). When another mouth is open, perhaps we ought to keep ours shut. Others may learn from that example. Mouth open, ears shut; and mouth shut, ears open. Sounds easy enough—if we're listening.