Face Time!

        Back in the day, my Greg and I dated long distance.  We used this very neat invention called the telephone.  It was heavy and bulky and was tied to the wall by an unsightly cord.  We used this system called “long distance.”  Because I was just out of college and had little money we even used the system called “a collect call.”

         More astonishing were other modes of communication.  We actually learned to take a piece of paper and beginning writing.  We would write of our hearts desire to be together.  After folding the paper, we would find what they called an envelope, place the paper inside and lick the envelope closed.  We then proceeded to lick a stamp and place it on the outside of the envelope, place it in the mail…and three or four days later Viola! The other would receive a hand-written letter.

         In an attempt to be my man’s “Sweetheart” I also tried to be spiritual by closing my letter with III John 13 and 14

“I have much to write you,

but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 

I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.”

         In studying III John this week I enjoyed reminiscing about these verses as they pertain to our dating experience. But the Lord showed me how our culture is causing me to be less and less engaged.  It is far to easy to leave a voice mail, email or text in an attempt to communicate.  (And forget Skype or face time. Horrors! I don’t want you to see how I look!)

         It is becoming far too easy in our culture of to disengage in individual lives. 

         So why mention this in this “mommy blog” because I am modeling this engagement to our children.  Our teenager and young twenties children, need to see their parents engaging others.  They need to see us meeting “face to face” with friends and others.  They need to see the value of having relationships that flourish and have value that far exceed a “like” on Insta-gram or a new friend request on Facebook.

         I encourage you to keep having playdates with your children at Chik-fil-A and meet with your girlfriends at Starbucks. 

       

            If I could rewrite the III John’s exhortation it would look like this…

“I could write this ridiculously long text,

filled with Emojies and tone 

and inflection you don’t get,

Or we can just meet at Starbucks

 and I can tell you face to face.”

         Moms, engage with others.  Find time, make time. Give new meaning to “Face Time!”