Hello friends! Today I am starting this post by asking you a question. Have you ever heard or said any of the following when you have lost touch with family and friends?
- * I am SO busy. * I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch. * Things have been just crazy! * I don’t know when I can come by but I will try soon. * I meant to call/come by, but things just got real busy. * With the family and kids, it is just hard to make it over there. (You put in the “over there). * I just started this new deal/job/ class and it has kept me pretty swamped!
I have felt this message heavy on my heart over the last few months as I have listened to all of the above and more, for the reasons for not being in available. We all think family is important but then we fail to keep in touch. We think we are more busy than others. Many of us have elderly people in our family, and we make the above excuses for not being there, and go on. Maybe if you are younger, you might feel that your elders are not relevant or they don’t understand. But if you spend time with them, you discover they are a wealth of information and have lived some of the same things, sometimes worse, than you have. So what keeps you from keeping in touch with others that you think about, but yet don’t follow up with? You know what? You may even carry some guilt for not following up when you get that niggling feeling. That is how the Holy Spirit works…He nudges you, drops a thought into your heart, or an action you should take. Do you listen? Do you take a moment to send that greeting text or make the call or just drop by on the way home from work just to check in?
Our grandparents and parents have given up so much. They have sacrificed much to raise us and give the best they could provide for us. We owe them that love and respect. Don’t leave them sitting in their chair wondering how you are or what you are doing. Take a few minutes to call. You will make their day. The Bible talks about, and even commands us, to honor, respect, and physically or even financially provide for our parents and family members. The Bible verse I think about is: Honor our father and mother that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God has given you; and that it may go well with you and you will enjoy a good life.
This applies to anyone that might be in need. It may be a friend in need and you can help. It may be your presence someone needs so they aren’t alone during a time of upset. God will bless you, that I know. He says you will have a good life. We have so many ways now to stay in touch and we have phones that we spend a lot of time on. Make it worth something. Don’t scroll all night. Share some of that time with someone instead with a text, a meme, or a picture, but stay in touch! You may be a distance away, but to hear your voice will certainly have the ability to lift their spirit!
It’s hard for me to hear so many talk about feeling alone and abandoned by friends and family. As I have said many times, we are not guaranteed a tomorrow. Neither are your family members or your friends. Some are fighting hard to keep their head above water and just need to know someone cares. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you be more aware of how you can improve in this area of your life. Don’t be so busy that you don’t live each moment, but instead, live a wild a crazy schedule trying to do everything. Make the most of every moment you have while they are still here with you. Pray about what changes you can make so you won’t feel so rushed and not have some time to give back. Don’t be so busy just because you think that means you look like you are successful. Slow the pace and let those around know they are important in your life. It will change you. I can guarantee that.
Until next time…
JoAnn
JoAnn Shiley 