I doubt this story is true, but I’m going to share it anyway! A group of women were at a seminar on how to live in a loving relationship with your husband. The women were asked, “How many of you love your husband?” All the women raised their hands. Then they were asked, “When was the last time you told your husband you loved him?” Some women answered today, a few yesterday, and some couldn’t remember.
The women were then told to take out their cell phones and text their husband: “I love you, sweetheart.” The women were then told to exchange phones with another person, and to read aloud the text message they received, in response. Here are some of the replies:
Who in the world is this?- Eh, mother of my children, are you sick or what?
- Yeah, and I love you too. What’s up with you?
- What now? Did you wreck the car again?
- I don’t understand what you mean?
- What did you do now?
- You’re kidding, right?
- Don’t beat about the bush; just tell me how much you need?
- Am I dreaming?
- If you don’t tell me who this message is actually for, someone will die.
- I thought we agreed you wouldn’t drink during the day. (my favorite)
- Your mother is coming to stay with us, isn’t she?
These replies don’t exactly point to the healthiest relationships, do they? Several years ago during our door-knocking campaign, I met a lady who told me that she already had a church home. “Great,” I replied. “Where do you worship?” She hemmed and hawed and stuttered and stammered…and she couldn’t remember. If you can’t remember the name of your church, you’re probably not going often enough. If you get a reply like these to a text message to your husband, you’re probably not communicating very well.
How is your prayer life? What would God say if you stopped right now, and prayed, “I love you?” Would it be the first time in months, or would it be continuing the conversation from moments before? It’s a challenge, but it’s a beautiful one. Paul told us to “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). That’s the epitome of constant communication.