Birds singing, people chatting, children laughing, a gentle breeze whipping through the air and rain tapping on a rooftop are some of the sounds that bring me happiness. I also enjoy quiet times when my heart and soul rest in peaceful moments. There are blessings in sounds and blessings in quiet.
Recently, my ears have been playing tricks on me. I keep thinking I hear my cell phone ringing with it’s distinct tone. Picking up the phone, I check for messages or alerts. Only trouble is lately, when I think a “ring, ring or a bing, bing” has sounded, I am wrong. Why do my ears seem tuned in to specific sounds?
My phone has been a constant companion lately. I don’t want to miss any important conversations or video chats. But, maybe, just maybe God is alerting me to pay more attention to Him than to my phone.
Am I so anxious to read a text or receive a special message that I have imagined the phone ringing or binging? Is the call or text so important that I need to stop right then and there and jump for the phone? If there truly is an emergency or something to be handled immediately, God will get my attention in other ways.
A decision has been made. I will change the alert tone on my cell phone and see what happens next.
On a side note, a funny thing did occur a few days ago. “Alan, I can’t find my phone. Do you know where I left it?” His answer was that he didn’t know the location of my phone. Silly me, it was in the pocket of the jacket I was wearing. 🙂 Now, that made me laugh at myself once again.
Are you listening for the ring or bing of your phone or are you aware of your surroundings? Don’t let opportunities pass you by. It might be time to change your ringer sound.
Have a blessed day, full of giggles,
Mimi
Fortunately, I’m one of those rare individuals who hasn’t gotten addicted to my phone. It’s a necessity when it comes to keeping in contact with family and friends, since we no longer have a landline, but I don’t allow it to control my world. I’m with you, Melissa, I’d much rather spend my time with God than scrolling through my Facebook feed on my phone. Life it too short to be so consumed with what others are doing or saying. Happy New Year!
Yes, I believe when we become too attached to our phone, we miss great opportunities to experience God’s blessings. Have a wonderful weekend! 🙂
Haha..this is an amazing read. Honestly, the cell phone is the first thing I checked after waking up & before going to bed.
This is also true sometimes it tends to control our lives, though I am a student right now so I need to lock this little ring, ring or bing in my study table drawer.
But you are right opportunities are waiting for us, it just we need to be cautious.
It’s wonderful reading it, looking forward to reading from you more often!
Thank you so much for your kind comments. I am trying to put my cell phone down more often. I don’t want to miss any of God’s blessings because I am focused on my phone. 🙂 It’s a process. Have a blessed weekend!
Thanks Melissa, for your ever-thoughtful ‘ponderings.Your insights are important to us. It is so easy to heed the “outer” voice that we neglect the “inward” one. Help us to LISTEN Lord, help us to listen! With appreciation, ART STANLEY
Thank you Art. I pray today will be a day of listening for His voice and not the sound of the beeps on the phone. 🙂 Have a blessed Sunday!
I love your story, Mimi. How clever! I put my phone on silent during the day when I’m at school, where I must heed school bells that announce the beginning and ending of class periods. Besides those, I try to tune my ear to the dings of the Holy Spirit. I’m purposefully turning away from all distractions to just hear His voice. Blessings, sweet friend! xoxo
Putting our phones on silent can truly be helpful. Thank you for your messages and encouragement. Have a blessed Sunday dear friend! 🙂
Oh my goodness I thought I was the only one that heard a phone ringing like that! It’s the house phone that sometimes I think I hear ringing only find out that there is no call. I love gardening time or walking in the woods. I find that time is the time I hear God and block all over disturbances. Believe me no one bothers you when your gardening, they are too afraid they might have to help! If we are walking in the woods we all leave our phones in the car. Peace, wonderful peace!
I love gardening and walking outside, too. Listening to birds singing and nature sounds truly makes me happy. Have a blessed week! 🙂
Great message Melissa. I, too am guilty of at times being more focused on my phone than I am present in a current moment. Thanks for the reminder of how precious the present is. May I savor it more and place my phone and what may or may not happen on the other end if it back in its proper place on my list of priorities!
Grateful for your wisdom,
Christy
I am amazed at the blessings I experience when my phone is put aside. Right now, I am listening to rain tapping on the window. Beautiful and peaceful sound. Have a blessed day dear friend! 🙂
I have to admit my phone can be a constant companion of mine too. The thing is, it’s a friend that can make me anxious. The phone is a good thing until it becomes a bad thing. Taking breaks from it helps me hear better things, or even silence. Silence is a better companion as it helps me hear God more. Great post!
Thank you Marcie. I agree, taking breaks from my phone helps me. Have a blessed week! 🙂
Love this post. This is something that all of us deal with these days. Once I thought I’d lost my phone and I almost panicked. It made me realize I need to worry about keeping the Lord near than my phone!!
PS I like your nail polish!!
Yes, we need to be more concerned about keeping the Lord close to us. 🙂 Glad you like the polish, but those are not my nails. haha!!! Have a blessed week dear friend.
Hey, Mimi. I know this feeling! I get phantom buzzes in my leg where I think I have a text. Except my phone is on the shelf in the other room…it’s a little alarming. Clearly I have issues.
But yes, I need to strive for separation and freedom from my phone, from social media, etc. Good thoughts!
Chip, I had to laugh when I read about the phantom buzzes in your leg. That happens to my husband and he jumps. haha! Thanks for your comments. Have a blessed week! 🙂
I’m not married to my phone. BUT other people get annoyed when I don’t have it with me so I don’t return their texts,, calls, etc. immediately. Any opinions on cell phone etiquette?
Linda,you are setting a good example by not being married to your phone. 🙂 Phone etiquette is something many people need to learn about. 🙂 Have a blessed week!
Thank you.
Thanks Melissa. This really struck a nerve because I tend to do the same thing with my phone. In fact, as I read through your blog, I saw a notification of an email and I was tempted to stop and go read it. Maybe God is reminding me through your blog to put away the distractions.
Yvonne, I love how God can remind us about things in many different ways, including blog posts. 🙂 Have a blessed week! 🙂
This definitely resonates!! I do the same, ha!
Thanks for reading and commenting. Have a blessed week! 🙂
I’ve done that (phone in the pocket and frantically looking for it) many times! While technology is useful, I think it creates stress and keeps us too preoccupied during the day. Great post!
Thank you Julie. Amazing how quickly we can start to rely on our phone. Have a blessed week! 🙂
That’s happened to me too. It seems moreso when I am anticipating something or even anxious. I know I’m on my electronics too much & try to be on them less – it’s tricky when some of your work is online.
I love your thought – I think God is calling all of us to pay more attention to Him!!
Thank you Christina. Yes, I think I am on my phone too much. I am trying to change. Have a blessed week! 🙂
This reminds me of when I’d been getting lots of texts while I drive because my phone connects to my car. Well, they’d come in and my wife would wonder who’s sending me all those texts. Turns out most of them were Twitter notifications of retweets from my wonderful Twitter community. I finally turned off the notifications and all is calm now. 😊
Sometimes turning off the notifications can be a very good thing. 🙂 Thanks for commenting. Have a blessed week! 🙂
I can relate! It’s so easy to become addicted to checking your phone. I keep mine on silent and often leave it purposefully in other rooms to help with this!
I like the idea of leaving my phone in other rooms so I won’t be tempted to check it every few minutes. Thanks for the tip. 🙂 Have a blessed week!
This is so relatable, for a phone noise or other sounds. When our children were babies, I thought I heard their cries in the white noise of fans, and even in the silence. I definitely agree we can become attuned to certain sounds we’re focused or fixated on. It certainly would be best if we were attuned MOST to God’s voice, but I think I still need some practice.
I pray that today I will be tuned in for His messages instead of my phone bings. Thanks for reading and commenting. Have a blessed day! 🙂
Fabulous reminder for our day.
Thank you Nancy. Have a wonderful, blessed day! 🙂
Mimi, this really struck at my heart the day I stopped mid-prayer to check a ding. 🙁
Amazing how those dings catch our attention, even during prayer. Thank you for reading and commenting. Have a joy filled, blessed day! 🙂