Thursday, September 16, 2010

Simply Calling

This week’s simple pleasure can be summed up in two simple words,

“Hi, Mom!”

I think, of all the words that come in and out of my head during the course of a week (and you know there are many…) that phrase is my very favorite.

And it comes to me through the wonders of modern technology.


When I went to college decades ago, we had land lines in the rooms. Calls home were costly, especially since dormitories were not equipped with long distance service so calls were made collect.
 (Those under 30 might need to google that…)

The minutes were precious, and every word needed to be spoken within about three minutes… preferably after 9:00PM or before 7:00AM.

I couldn’t just pick up the phone because I wanted to hear my mother’s voice (and there were so many times that I wanted to... ) Now that I’m a mother myself, I know that she felt the same way.

Not so today.


Today, through the magic of a satellite, we can pay one single price, put our daughters in a calling circle, and have unlimited access to the sound of their voices.

Isn’t it grand?
They can call me when they need to.
Even better, they can call me when they want to.
And I have the same privilege.

My nieces have always called their mother at the same basic time of the day, around 5:00 in the afternoon. I wonder if they know that she gives a little jump when she hears her cell phone singing away in her purse at that time of day. I wonder if they know that she picks it up, looks at the number, and then says their name… with a little sigh… in a way that I know all mothers reading this will understand. No matter what she’s doing, no matter where she is, she will retreat with that phone to a quiet corner to hear what her child has to say.

My girls and I have a different model. I have told them to call me “whenever”, and that I will try to be available to take the call. My calls come spontaneously, and the voice that I hear on the other end of the line is often accompanied by a little huff and puff as they chat with me as they are going...

I wonder if they know that those huffs and puffs are my favorite part of the day. 

Yesterday’s huff and puff from Miss Whimsy
 was accompanied by a
hack
and a,
“Hi, Momb”. 

 That’s how I knew, without her saying, that my girl had caught her sister's cold. Thirty years ago, my mother wouldn’t have known about a cold unless it entered the need your mother stage.

I love both calling styles, and both styles remind me of a great truth about The Father that I wouldn’t have known without being a mother. Whether I set aside special time to connect with Him, or whether I call on him as I am going, he truly delights in the sound of my voice, huff, puff, hack, and all.

Because I am His child.
And the sound of my voice is
His favorite part of the day.
I think, maybe,
it might even be His simple pleasure.

*****

Sharing this today with Dayle at
Please join me and others for more
Simple Pleasures.

36 comments:

Unknown said...

wow. first one!! am i up early, or what?
There is nothing i love more than to see my daughter's name on my phone when it rings. the last call made me laugh. "hey mom! i had some time and thought i'd call" made my heart sing. Of course she had all of two minutes to talk....
xoxo
lynn

Ann said...

I too love to hear the sound of my children's voices at the other end of the phone.
I hated though, when they had colds and I couldn't be there to sympathize .... or when they called while driving.
The eldest is very guilty of that one and I have learned to "bite my tongue."

Other wise, I LOVE it when they call.

southerninspiration said...

I am waiting for my girl to "get it" and to think about calling Mom during those huff and puff times. She seems really busy and I haven't quite figured out the best time to catch her to chat. We'll be having a little talk about that soon, because I sure do miss her voice and catching up on everyday things. I think she is just too busy to stop and "get it" yet. Loved this post!

Suzanne

Denise said...

I should have known you would notice my reaction to my girls calling. You ALWAYS notice the little things. Isn't the sound of their voice just the greatest? And what a wonderful analogy to the Father. As usual, you brought tears to my eyes. Just love this post.

Vanessa said...

This post really hits home with me! My entire family live in other states and those phone calls (sometimes several times a day) are what keeps me going sometimes. When you don't have your family nearby it becomes a lifeline! I don't know what I would do without my mom and sis and I treasure those times to "yak" away! My parents have even asked me to just follow my kiddos around holding the phone out so they can just simply hear them playing. We are a pathetic bunch! :-)
Vanessa
http://southerninmyheart.blogspot.com

Dayle ~ A Collection of Days said...

Dear Debbie, you took this mother's breath away with this one ... and that ending about our Father, longing to hear the voice of His children, and maybe being His simple pleasure of each day, well, I'm looking for a Kleenex as I type. Beautiful! Simply beautiful.

FrouFrouBritches said...

So sweet! My littlest "E" went to spend the night at her aunt's house the other night and I think I called to hear her little voice about 5 times in that 18 hours.

Sure hope Miss Whimsy feels better. I still call my mama when I get sick too.

Patti said...

Totally beautiful post!!!

I LOVE being a mom. Truly, it's the best, most favorite, thing I've done with my life. And I am very close to my children. They still live in my home, though, so I don't totally know the situation you are in. However, this past summer, my daughter was visiting friends out of state for 3 weeks...she called me every morning and every evening (and sometimes during the afternoon), just to talk. Those phone calls kept me close to her even though she was 3,000 miles away. Just like you, those phone calls were some of my favorite parts of the day.

Have a lovely day,
Patti

Anonymous said...

ITA - the calls are priceless for me. What's even more fun is now that my oldest is a mother herself - she's always calling for advice, LOL.

Cindy said...

I love this simple pleasure, it brings tears to my eyes as I think about my kids voices on the other end of the phone. For me, it's a little slice of heaven when they call for no reason but to hear my voice. Knowing they need me as much as I need them.

And I am so grateful for the technology that allows us to stay connected to loved ones when they are so far away.

Great post!

Kelli said...

Thank you, thank you for sharing this! It made my heart SMILE!!

Kathleen said...

My girls live close to me and we see each other a lot and talk to each other on the phone a lot too! It always makes me happy. A Simple Pleasure for sure!

Melissa said...

it's encouraging to hear that they'll still call!! even though my daughter's only 6 1/2, i dread the days that i have no idea where she is or what she's doing. i so hope that she'll let me be a phone call away. ;) hope you have a great weekend. and thanks, as always, for stopping by events by design!

Miss Merry said...

Thank you. Your post brought tears to my eyes for the opposite reason. My mom and I were always on the phone with each other. Even though we live in a small town, sometimes within walking distance, we always spoke several times a day. I would give anything to be able to talk to her, hear her voice on the other end.

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Debby, I can't say it enough - you are such a great writer and you are also such a great thinker! Love the way you tied the children's calls into God's children calling His name in prayer. I choked up while I was reading this. I love it when my children call, and although she's been gone 10 years, I often have the desire to call my mother, as I so often did when I was down or had a little news to share. Loved your post. laurie

Sharon said...

Tears in my eyes, girlfriend...tears in my eyes!

The picture of the picture on the phone was too funny!! So cute, too!! My sons are pretty diligent about keeping in touch - they're just not girls, though - so it's usually not "just to chat." More often than not, it's for advice, or a peptalk, or to yak about politics or sports - BUT, the GREAT thing is...they call ME! And when your 20-something sons WANT to talk to Mom - absolutely precious, absolutely priceless.

I just love what you said about our Heavnely Father - how He waits to hear from us. As a mom, I know that joy you were talking about when a child calls. To think that He feels that way about ME...wondrous!

I am HIS simple pleasure - now THAT makes me SMILE :)

Jane said...

Very nice post. I look forward to talking to my mom every day and am thankful that I can still do so as she is now 82 years old.

Jane

Gayle said...

Loved this, friend. So true.

Sue said...

Loved loved this post Debbie, and how you compared it to God hearing our voice. Priceless. Thanks for sharing. You have such a gift for putting your thoughts on paper, or is that cyber something or other. lol.
I do love to hear my children's voices though I wish they would sit and be still when we are talking. lol

Hugs,
Sue

Joan Hall said...

Oh yes, I remember the land lines, collect calls, and even party lines. We are blessed to have the ability to communicate more frequently.

Isn't it wonderful that when we call on our Heavenly Father, He doesn't put us on hold and is always ready to listen?

Blessings,
Joan

Nikki (Sarah) said...

this is such a great post...and it's great how you tie it into our voices being the best for Him....

bj said...

Yep...there's nothing any finer than hearing your childs voice..no matter what age..and then add grandkids voices and.....there ya are. Your simple pleasure is doubled..:))

Stephani Cochran said...

We were just talking today about how we didn't have cell phones or email in college. I spoke to my parents once a week. They called me so I wouldn't run up a phone bill and I called them collect if I really needed to talk to them about something. Remember letters? I still write a few of those just for old times sake. Nice post. Thanks for stopping by today!

Amy Kinser said...

What beautiful words from a mother.

What a beautiful thought about the Father.

Anonymous said...

Oh, what a sweet post! My kids are both grown and married but I love hearing their voice any time! Except maybe at 3:30 in the morning then I'd be terrified! Not that ever happened! :)
Thanks for popping in to see me,
Shelia ;)

Ms.Daisy said...

Awww Debbie I loved this post - I know about hearing your child's voice on the phone when they are far from you! It is so good to hear them and know that all is well! Thanks for a neat Simple Pleasure!

~Jean

Dawn said...

those two words... oh i love them when they walk in the door or when it is me walking in! and i love hearing how much more i'm going ot love them in the days to come!

Linda W said...

It doesn't matter how grown-up our children are, the calls are the best time of the day! I love my daily chats with mine and I do recall their college days and those special, smile-maker calls.

Renée said...

Oh, it is wonderful! I just love hearing from my kids often and being able to call them. Dad is gone now, but I have a few of his messages on my phone I keep re-saving them, just so I can hear his voice. May we never take this pleasure for granted.

Jennie said...

The problem here, clearly, is that you and your sister don't love those daughters of yours nearly enough. ;)

This is so very sweet. Thanks for the smile! (And you know, I think you're right. Even when I call right in the middle of sacred dinner time, my mom will answer the phone. It's pretty awesome.)

Anita Diaz said...

Amazing how you tie it all in to the most important relationship we have! Just beautiful! I do remember collect calls and not being able to just talk to my mom or dad. And our relationship with our Father can be so intimate if we "call" Him and talk more. Thanks for this inspiration!

Anonymous said...

I'm old enough to remember party lines. Yikes! Now that's scary! :-)

Rettabug said...

Beautifully expressed & soooo true! I jump with joy every time my DD calls & she lives less than 5 miles away. :-)

Very pretty table this week, too. I enjoyed your soft greens.

I'm still swamped with sewing projects. I hope to find a quiet moment to blog something in the coming week.

CAL said...

Remember when we couldn't wait to hear their first words?? And then they started talking....and talking.....never ending chatter.

All of a sudden (it seems like a New York minute) they are out of the house and again you can't wait to hear them talk! I hope Ms. Whimsey feels better soon, otherwise you'll need to get out the chicken soup.

Francie...The Scented Cottage Studio said...

I LOVE getting phone calls from my children. My daughter calls more often than my son but I talk to them at least once a week. I know how things are going if they say "Hi Mom" or "Hi Mommy"... I talk to my Father every day just about all day and He knows how things are going for me too by how I address Him. The wonders of a parents heart....(())

Chatty Crone said...

I love to see my kids names on the phone too - and I wish I could talk to my mom one more time - some day I will. Sandie

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