Excuse Me....Could I Have Your Undivided Attention Please?

Excuse Me....Could I Have Your Undivided Attention Please?
These days, it's almost impossible to have a meal or a focused conversation with someone without being interrupted by a phone call or text message. How does it make you feel to be having a nice conversation with someone, and then THEIR phone rings or dings that indicates a text message coming through, AND, without even a second thought, they leave you hanging while they answer their phone or text message? Ugh! And how do you feel if you're sitting at the dinner table with others and instead of carrying on conversation with you, you seem to be the only one at attention because the others are all checking their Facebook, Instagram or emails?

Okay, I'll admit it. I've been on both sides....the one singing "All By Myself" while others were heads down in their phones, AND I've been the one with my head down in MY phone. What in the world? Where did our respect for others and being laser focused on others in their presence go? I'm ashamed of us!! It's time for putting those phones in another room or turning them off so we can get back to what's REALLY important -- being a sincere, caring, and respectful friend and family member. It's like going into a store -- you made the effort to go to the store and BE THERE, when the store's phone rings, and the sales clerk answers it and carries on a conversation with them, instead of honoring the fact that YOU ARE THERE!

The point was made ever so profoundly yesterday morning as I sat on my friend's lovely screened-in porch that overlooks the beautiful pond and fountain, sipping my coffee, worshipping and praising my Lord as I read my devotion book and scriptures, WHEN.....my phone dinged, alerting me to check out who just left a text message for me. After all, it could be the plumber, the friend that's coming over later today, or one of my children or grandchildren needing me. Right? Oh, so WRONG! I was fully engaged in conversation with my Heavenly Father, Maker of Heaven and Earth, My Creator, My Savior Who Gave His life for me, My Confidant, Healer and the King of all Kings....and I let myself be interrupted. Oh, and to make matters worse....while I was checking that ding, I just had to check my Facebook account and any emails that may have come in. Are you kidding ME? How could I be so inconsiderate? How could I be so unthoughtful? Suddenly, I was well aware of how rude and disrepectful I have been. Immediately, I heard God's tender and loving words "Heaven to Donna!!!! Could I have your undivided attention please?" While begging for forgiveness, I took the phone into the house and then went back to my Welcomed Guest and resumed my one-on-one with The Almighty! My goodness!

So let's do a Where's Waldo?" search. Where is the object in this photo that is used by the enemy to steal my alone time with my Best Friend, Father and my CEO? Oh, there it is.....smack dab in the middle.....instead of AWAY from being a distraction to my one-on-one time with my ROYAL guest. Jesus sat the example for us in Mark 1:35-36 "And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a DESOLATE PLACE, and there He prayed."

Call to Me and I Will Answer You

When my sweet Mom was alive, I made it a habit to check on her everyday. I'd call her or go by to see her, and if I couldn't find her, I'd check with her neighbors. Mom was a gad-about in her Senior Living apartment complex -- in and out of neigbors' apartments. She was so loved by everyone, and usually if I called one of those neighbors, she was there or they knew where she was.

My sister-in-law and my 93-year old mother-in-law have a similar relationship. Because Karen and George work their business out of Mom's home, their daily visits are routine. Still, Mom calls and signs off with Karen each night, and she either calls Karen or Karen calls her in the mornings.

Last week I was at a leadership meeting that I attend every Monday for several hours. Mom called me during that time and because my phone was on silent, I didn't answer. She had forgotten about the meeting. After trying several times to unsuccessfully get me, she proceeded to call my daughter, Staci. Staci reassured her that I was probably at a meeting. Since Granny had never called her, looking for me like that before, she became concerned so she tried to find me....calling many times. Eventually, I answered my phone. Staci explained the "manhunt", but her hero, Larry, had checked Facebook and saw that I had made my daily post that morning and reassured her that I must be okay. Staci replied, "That doesn't mean she's okay. Sometimes she puts her posts on an automatic timer (I only do that when I'm out of the country away from wifi). He said, "No, she's been commenting on other people's posts. She's okay."

I was quite amused at this scenario. First, that my mother-in-law was checking up on me and, only after a few hours, "the hunt" ensued. But, alas, Facebook gave them all consolation.

I'll do better at checking in with "central station" daily. After all, I'm getting to that "mature" age when "heaven" just may have called my number. LOL! But, since "heaven" doesn't do Facebook, if you're missing me....just call out my name, and you'll probably find me on FACEBOOK!

Isn't it so great that God is so much easier to find than we are? I'm so glad that finding Him isn't a matter of a phone call, text message or Facebook. He's with us right HERE, right now. And, if we take the time to listen.....He'll even let us know He's right HERE, right now, if we'll just listen for His sweet, tender and loving voice.

"Call to me and I will answer you....." Jeremiah 33:3