Ppl don’t 📞(call) no more, all they do is 💬(text)
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth” (Psalm 145:18).
Real MOMent
During my daughter’s most recent Winter Break, she was texting a friend on the phone when she asked me if she could just call her friend. Of course I told her it was cool, and she quickly dialed the number. Talking on the phone with her friend was what she did most of the break when the family festivities were chill. Every now and again, I would hear her talking about “all the things” and coordinating their online game. I even managed to tell her “you've been talking all day!” and heard her annoyance (I’m sure paired with an 🙄) as she told her friend that she had to go and would talk to her later. 🙃 That brought back a memory!
I never would have thought that talking on the phone would inspire such a sense of nostalgia. I remember being my daughter’s age and talking on the phone with my friends all of the time. My pocket sized phone book held the numbers of my contacts, organized from A-Z with scratched out names and maybe a few hearts 💘. *67, *69 and 3-way calling (6-way calling if two people had 3-way) were the latest and greatest! I was a master of talking past curfew and coordinated the logistics of ensuring that the ringers were turned “OFF” (on all of the phones) and that they were ALL turned back “ON” so I didn’t get caught. Each of those phone calls always began with the same disclaimer: “if I hang up, don’t call me back!”
Seriously, just thinking about it makes me 🙂 (smile)! But when I start to think about how difficult it is to even have a phone conversation these days, I start to feel a little 😢(sad) because I realize how sometimes a text message just feels different and disconnected. I even mentioned something to my husband who shared that a friend told him once “if I have to call you every day, we can’t be friends.” We laughed 😂.
I wouldn’t be keeping it real, if I said, at the end of a long day, sometimes I reach for my phone to call a friend, who has crossed my mind/heart and I decide to send a text instead. Even though I would like to hear their voice and catch up on “all the things” I find myself feeling that a call is a disruption rather than a welcomed interruption. I’m 💯 owning the priority of continuing to grow and connect with people, with my friends, even in 2023 where people don’t call no more, all they do is text.
MOMent of Clarity
This MOMent has really reminded me of what a friend we have in Jesus! Even though I may not always be able to call or talk to my friends, I can always call on Him and he will always be there. While no friendship on Earth is perfect, the one we have with Jesus is. It doesn’t require a landline, wireless network connection, or a charged battery. However, there is a requirement on our part even for this relationship. Matthew 7:7 reminds us to “ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” These are actions that we have to take.
Similarly, there are actions that need to be taken when a friend calls us. I have to make a decision to answer the call or at minimum return the call vs. replying with a text or ignoring it all together. There are a lot of benefits to sending a text message, but there is something that a text can’t do, in my opinion. It can’t truly capture the emotions of the life I am living no matter the amount of emoticons inserted in the text chat. Most importantly, it doesn’t communicate the same message of “you are worth the time” as a call. Jesus says “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) and that is exactly what He did. His sacrifice to give His life for me, makes my consideration of sacrificed time to call a friend look like a speck of dust.
I’m not the eleven-year old girl plotting her next after-curfew phone call or counting down the days until her bestie gets off of phone punishment. My roles have certainly multiplied and time is much more limited. While I am committing to reaching out and dialing my friends’ numbers more, I pray for moments when I’m unable to reach them either through call or text they remember “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth” (Psalm 145:18).
Call Him! He will answer. 🙌
The Praise for the post “ppl don’t talk no more, all they do is text” is an original poem titled, “Textual Emotions.” The poem speaks to both the loss and the need to connect to one another while highlighting the need to connect and call on the Lord.
How frequently do I call on the Lord when I am in need (for anything)?
Is calling on the Lord a priority in my life?
What distractions currently prevent me from connecting with the Lord?
Phone Date!: We are moms, which means we have to plan! Plan ahead for a phone call by adding it to your weekly calendar. Send a text to set up a time/day that works best and commit! Don’t underestimate a 15 minute call! :) Don’t forget to mix it up, my strategy is to scroll through my Contacts!
KINGDOM CREW:
Learning how to prioritize conversations and connections is critical. Our children live in such a digital age, that it is possible for them to communicate without even saying a word! Incorporate the FAMILY & FAMILY FRIENDS into the weekly conversations. Coordinate the day/time but make the kids a part of the conversation. This is something that can happen in all ages and be an opportunity for your Kingdom Crew to share their life or accomplishments with others.
Aunties, Godparents, Grandparents: Don’t underestimate the power of your call. Make a plan to establish more regular conversations.
Younger Kids:
Highlight the new skills or information they are learning by allowing your child/children to share (colors, alphabet, numbers, new words,etc.)
Father, In Heaven,
One day without calling on you is one day too many. Please help me to discern the distractions among all the things and place priority on the things that matter. In the moments when I feel disconnected from others help me to remember that I am always connected to you. Thank you for always being avaialble and hearing my call. No matter the day or the time, your love and faithfulness never fails, your friendship is unmatched. Amen.
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