This may sound strange, but one of the little things that my father-in-law did that really impacted me was this: he always answered the phone when someone in the family called. It didn't matter what he was doing or who he was meeting with. He was incredibly busy pastoring a huge church, but anyone in the family could interrupt him at any time. Answering the phone was a way of giving unique access. And that little thing made all of us feel special.
I've tried to follow suit. I'm not perfect at it. And I'm sure my father-in-law wasn't either. But answering the phone is one way of putting your family first.
I think we've got to find little ways to make the truly important people in our lives feel truly important.
Answer the phone.
I've tried to follow suit. I'm not perfect at it. And I'm sure my father-in-law wasn't either. But answering the phone is one way of putting your family first.
I think we've got to find little ways to make the truly important people in our lives feel truly important.
Answer the phone.
7 Comments:
My boys are both in college now, but they know I follow this rule. My youngest son, who is a freshmen at Moody, has used the privilege a lot lately. He always apologizes for interrupting, but he never is.
Great discipline,
Ron Edmondson
http://www.RonEdmondson.com
Great advice...there is not enough of this type of conversation and mentorship going on...w/ so many families taking back seats to busy 'ministry'...it's nice to know that others struggle with finding ways to keep what's most important in its place.
I guess I have a little different take on this one. I work in a very "progressive" environment, were everyone feels free to answer phones during meetings, to disrupt face-to-face conversations to take a call.
I resist the urge (most of the time) to snatch the phone from their hands and say "Hey, I was here first!"
Therefore, when I'm in a meeting, or otherwise engaged with someone face-to-face, I check my phone to see who is calling, but hit the "ignore" button, sending them to my voicemail.
However, I do have a special code with my family, and very close friends who I want to give instant access to: If it's IMPORTANT, and I don't answer, don't leave a message. Instead, hang up and call back immediately. That second call means they need me NOW. Of course, they get to decide the definition of "important", and I (almost) never question it.
In those cases, I excuse myself from the face-to-face conversation with an explanation that this is urgent. Once the call is over, I tell them about the "code". No one has ever been offended.
I just wrote and posted a blog about my late father-in-law. Pretty coincidental, I'd say! My F-i-L was the bomb! I learned how to be a father-in-law from him! Stay Out! Stay in! Stay put! Stay strong! Stay fun! "Lessons I Learned From My Father-In-Law" Ck out www.godchasers.net then click on 'Tommy Tenney's blog' Would really love your comments!
Thanks for the reminder. I can be really terrible about this when my wife is calling. I'm making some intentional effort to get this right :)
Great reminder to make the truly important people important. Ironically, at home though, my application of this rule looks different.
If I am with my wife and kids, I've been challenged to NOT answer the phone unless absolutely necessary. And if so, keep it short - especially if it is from work. My wife feels important when I give her more attention at home than the people on the other end. Thanks for the good word.
WOW, this is way cool.
I have been in ministry for 27 years and my family has always been able to call anytime.
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