Do you really mean it?

We live in a society that thrives on “busy”. Moving at the speed of light. Jam-packing our schedules. Rolling through from sunrise to sunset, with barely a breath in between. Often times spending more time with social media than with our own here-on-Earth families. Opting for text messages versus a voice-to-voice, personable phone call. Sending an email or “Facebook” birthday wish, versus a snail-mail card. Or face-to-face visit.

Continuously finding the least-disruptive means of interacting with others, just to appease our busting-at-the-seams schedules.

Sigh.

Oh friends, let’s be brutally honest for just a minute. Let’s take a moment to genuinely reflect upon our actions. And how they truly affect others. Answering the following question, from the depths of your heart… How often have you found yourself in the quickest-response “trap”, spouting off whatever words come to mind the fastest, so that you can be as reassuring as possible to another soul, yet remaining steadfast to your color-coded planner for the day?

Ensuring that you don’t “waste” too much of your beloved, precious time away from your endless “to-do” list?

Not only do I know I am beyond guilty, beautiful one; I have also been on the other side. Feeling as though I really needed the comfort of another, yet totally left standing alone with a less-than-important sentiment at the end of the interaction. With a disappointingly newfound discovery about my status in our relationship. That maybe I am not as important to that person as I really thought I was. And, oh, sweet friends, how it stings. Badly. To. the. core.

So, if we are spending this time today being so brutally honest, let’s keep going…

How often do you really mean it?

~When you say, “So good to see you. Let’s get together soon!”

Do you really mean it?

~When you tell your friend, “I am here if you need anything.”

Do you really mean it?

~When you ask, “How are you doing?”

Do you really mean it?

~When you tell someone you will be praying for them.

Do you really mean it?

This is the one that gets me the most. Prayers are serious business. If you don’t intend on praying for someone as promised, it’s better just not to promise it in the first place. It is one of the e.a.s.i.e.s.t. and simplest, yet most meaningful, acts you can do for another. And it only takes a matter of seconds or minutes.

I know I don’t do it enough, but sometimes, I think it’s such an imperative act, to take a time-out from the craziness that encompasses our existence and to really take a step back and evaluate personal relationships. Day-to-day interactions. And most importantly, just how you are treating others in general. Because no matter how hectic and scheduled life may become; how cherished your calendar and devices may be, the impact that you leave on others trumps it all.

So, today, sweet friends, I challenge you. Next time you find yourself in conversation with another, as the threat of being late to evening practices, as your mind swirls with thoughts of the night’s dinner to be made and homework to tackle; ask yourself…was I really present in this moment with this other precious soul? Did I really mean what I said? Can I even remember the interaction? And go from there. It’s never to late to start anew. Never to late to change the way we pursue and hold dear our relationships with those around us.

“Gracious words are like honey; sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” (~Proverbs 16:24)