I am awful about keeping in touch with family and friends who I don’t see on a regular basis. I think about picking up the phone and making the call, but I never seem to make the time to actually follow through. And by the end of the day, I have completely forgotten who I was even thinking about calling.
But when I have that nagging thought that just won’t seem to go away, I know that I really need to listen and pick up the phone. It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, I know that what I am really hearing is the “man upstairs” prodding me in the right direction even when I am trying to resist.
It happened again today, and I am finally beginning to learn my lesson. I picked up the phone and called my aunt. She is 89 years old, and one of the most active and capable people that I know, regardless of her age. But my uncle has had many health issues, and I just felt like I needed to call and check in with her.
I must admit that I was a little worried when she answered. I told her who I was, but then she sounded confused and asked again, “Who is this?” I said my name again a little hesitantly, and she just began to laugh. She told me that she was just shocked that I called, (a hint that I don’t call often enough I know) because she was just thinking about me. I related how I had been thinking about her as well and asked how everyone was doing.
The short version is that my uncle is not well, and Aunt Rosie has her hands full. But I know that if there is anyone who will handle this, it’s her. We chatted and rambled about a lifetime of memories and family as well as her current day challenges. It was just good to hear her voice and to talk about family with family.
And as we were saying our goodbyes she said, “You know, I have been thinking about you all week. And you said you were thinking about me too. That is just the man upstairs telling us what we need to do.” I chuckled a little and remembered her telling me many times before that she has a very special and direct relationship with the man upstairs. And that it’s just fine that I don’t choose to attend church, because I can have that same type of relationship with him.
She then went on to tell me how glad she was that I called and how much it had cheered her up. Again, I thought to myself how just hearing her voice had made me smile and brightened my day. And maybe each of us, in our own way, needed me to make that call today. All I know is that I am thankful that I listened to that voice, and I hope it really did offer her a peaceful moment or two in her ever-hectic day.
Aunt Rosie is our family historian and as she will proudly tell you, she is the oldest living member of our family. I always love talking to her and I always feel that the tie we share is a gift and a privilege. She is my tether to the past and all of the loved ones that we have lost, as well as my beacon of hope for the future. At 89 she is still full of spit and vinegar, or maybe cold beer, and she is determined to make the most of every moment that she has on her journey. I can’t really imagine living to be nearly 90, but if I do, I hope to have her zest for life and determination to enjoy every last second that I have.
Another lovely post. I too have that problem, and it’s also my Aunt who is also the oldest living relative on my mom’s side. She is my doorway to the past and my late mother past life, her sister. But God has his own way to reaching us at the right time. I call every week, I just use to call two or more times per week. I guest life’s problems overwhelms sometimes we keep putting off the imprtant issues until something hits us harder. Some people in our lives will take us into the past, but it will be a happy journey that we don’t do often. Amazingly, we tend to do the sadder journey more. Why? Sometimes a single phone call can save a life, a day or a moment. Don’t wait for something to hit you.
Oh, boy, Kathy, you’ve done it again. You’re not going to believe this but yesterday, my 21-year-old grandson (who never calls me ‘just because’) called me to thank me for the scones I sent him at college. I had sent him a text to tell him to expect them and then a couple of days later after I received confirmation about when they would be delivered since he has to go to another building to claim his deliveries. When he called to say thank-you, I chuckled and said, “Now I know what I have to do to get you to call me, Sammy. I have to send homemade scones.” “Right, Grandma,” he said back. We both had a good laugh, and hearing from him truly made my day, just as you “made” your Aunt Rosie’s day. So today’s is another posting of yours I’m printing off to save because reading it inspires me to write my own stories. Bless you, as always.