Today I called my elderly neighbor to let her know of our phone number changes. I know I have talked about her here before. She is a “old school” type of gal who helps me plant things, know when to cut things back, shares heirloom recipes and all that sort of wonderful stuff that you can glean from her generation.

After a while of talking and catching up with the going ons of each other, she said one final thing before she hung up.

Have a good day and know that we are “on call” for you and your family.

I hung up the phone and had to raise one eyebrow at the strange terminology that she used. “On call.” When I think of that phrase, I think of call centers, firefighters, dispatchers, etc.  I imagine someone who is just sitting there waiting for your call to put them in action for you. Someone who drops whatever they are doing to answer your questions or come to your aid.

Now that I have thought about it, it doesn’t seem so strange at all. How wonderful to know that someone is “on call” for you, to know that whether you need them that minute or not, they are waiting for your call and that you are important enough to drop everything for.

How many times does our phone ring from friends or family and it interrupts a meal, a show on TV or other things you are doing. We either sit back and let the machine pick it up or answer and are well beyond distracted as we try to listen to what they have to say.

What if we put ourselves “on call” for those we love? What if they knew that they were so important that we would drop anything we are doing to be there for them? What if the beans overcooked a little because we took the time to listen to someone who just needed to reach out and know that someone was there to listen?

Who are you “on call” for in your life?

Categories: home life