Wednesday, March 23

Spreading God’s love with a phone call 

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” 

John 15:12 

I have never been asked to write a devotion before. So when the invite came I was so excited, I couldn’t wait to get started. Then the stress set in. How do I start? There are many Bible verses that have helped me through both the joyous and difficult times in my life. How do I pick one? Sometimes my mind works faster than my mouth or my fingers. Will anyone understand what I am trying to say?

Then something happened. I dialed the wrong number.

I was trying to contact a customer to let them know a delivery date of an order they had placed with us. I dialed the number and the phone rang and rang. I thought that was quite unusual for a business not to answer the phone on the second or third ring. But I was doodling so I just kept letting it ring. Finally, this soft-spoken voice answered the phone and I realized that I had dialed the wrong number and may have just disturbed this poor man from his sleep. I apologized for disturbing him and told him that I hoped he would have a great day. He started talking to me and told me that he didn’t answer right away because he didn’t realize it was his phone. No one calls so it barely rings. His voice was so sad that it just broke my heart.

After swallowing the lump in my throat, I replied that I was meant to call that number so I could meet him, and we con-tinued to have the best conversation. He shared stories with me about the business he ran before he retired after triple bypass surgery, his life down at the coast where he moved after his wife passed away, and how lonely life is now for him.

My heart was so touched by the difference in his voice. The longer we spoke, the stronger it became and the happier it sounded. I asked him to confirm his phone number so that I could call him once a week and check on him and he replied that one thing that he did have on his phone was caller ID. He had my number and he was going to hold me to my promise!

One of my co-workers commented that I must have made his day. On the contrary, he made my day reminding me of how blessed all of us are to have the love of our families and the means and ability to pass that love onto others and spread God’s word. We just need to do it!

Heavenly Father, please teach us and give us strength to love each other as you love us and spread the word of your many blessings. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen. 

Kathy Ingold