Did you not understand what I said?

 ¹ Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.
² I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.
³ For I too was a son to my father,
still tender, and cherished by my mother.
⁴ Then he taught me, and he said to me,
“Take hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands, and you will live.
⁵ Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.       Proverbs 4

This whole chapter is filled with good advice for parenting and just living in general.  The passage above is just a small taste of the good stuff.  Listening is probably one of the biggest challenges for most.  Last week my employers sent several of us managers to a seminar on listening, communication, and coaching.  It was very informative and interesting to learn that the average person does not hear or understand 63% of what a person says in a normal conversation.  63% of the words that come out of your mouth are ignored, not heard, or misunderstood.  Yeah 37% of your words are heard and comprehended.  Make your words few and important, strong and powerful, short and sweet.