Bonus Week Is Almost Here!

True confession: I have not always been the best daughter when it comes to calling my parents. It isn’t that I didn’t want to call them, it’s just that I developed a bad habit years ago of only calling on Sunday afternoons.

However, the weeks of Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and their birthdays were Bonus Weeks: Mom and/or Dad received a card and a phone call!

How sad is that… that once or twice a year my folks heard from me twice in one week. Ouch! Why was I willing to settle for that?

For those of you younger than 40, you may not know that we used to have to pay for long-distance calls; and long distance was pretty much anything further than the communities that abutted our own. Because long distance rates were cheaper on Sunday, and being a frugal person, I waited till Sunday afternoon to call mom and dad.

It wasn’t all about frugality – I was raising children, working, going to school, volunteering here, there and everywhere, scheduling play dates, hosting birthday parties, chauffeuring baseball teams, coordinating practice schedules – I was too busy to call mom and dad except on Sunday afternoon.

By the time cell phones were the norm and long distance charges went the way of the dinosaur, my habit was ingrained. Oh, sometimes I’d call in the middle of the week… if mom or dad was sick or had a doctor appointment, or there was an emergency of some sort, but mostly I called on Sunday afternoon. They always picked up. They were never too busy to chat.

It’s easy to fall into the same habit with God. There was a time in my life when I didn’t call on God very often either. I guess God’s Bonus Week was when I had an emergency that wasn’t resolved quickly.

How sad is that… that I was too busy to chat with the God of the universe more than once or twice a week. Ouch! Why was I willing to settle for that?

The arrogance is almost unfathomable… that I was too busy for God! And yet he was always there; he was never too busy to chat with me.

“The poor man called, and the Lord heard him… The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry;” – Psalm 34:6, 15 NIV

Are you too busy for God? God is not too busy for you.

“The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petitions, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” – Philippians 4:5-6 NIV

Over the course of my life I’ve come to realize how much I need to hear God’s voice every day. I need to know what he expects of me. I need him to tell me where and how he is leading me. I need his guidance and care. I need to hear that he loves me. I’ve learned that if I’m too busy for God – I’m too busy!

“Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” —Psalm 20:6-7 NIV

“I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me.” – Psalm 120:1 NIV

When I call on God I try to make sure it is a conversation, not a monologue; I try to spend time listening as well as talking. When I listen, God speaks. When God speaks, it is through his word, the Bible.

“Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” – John 8:47

After dad passed away, I started calling mom more often. I realized I had missed a lot by calling only on Sunday. I decided I didn’t want to settle for less. Are you willing to settle for Bonus Week with your parents? With your children? Will you pick up the phone and call them? Will you commit to build, or rebuild, the relationship you wish you had?

Are you willing to settle for Bonus Week with God? Will you spend time with him today, tomorrow and every day? He’s waiting. He’ll pick up when you call.