A family friend called me recently. I saw the call and listened to the voicemail later that evening. I was tired, and that’s okay, but I told myself, “I’ll call him back tomorrow.” Well, tomorrow turned into a few more tomorrows, and before I knew it, more than a week had passed before I finally returned his call. Then the same thing happened when my aunt called. That’s when I said to myself, “Dang Girl, you don’t like returning phone calls, do you?” This reminded me of something simple but important: check in on the people you love. So grab your favorite “leave me alone, it’s quiet time” mug and come sit with me.
Life gets busy. Between work, responsibilities, errands, and everything else competing for our attention, it’s easy to let time slip away. Before we know it, weeks have passed since we’ve had a real conversation with someone who matters to us.
And listen… y’all know I’m an introvert. My fellow introverts understand that we can look at a ringing phone, let it go to voicemail, and convince ourselves we’ll call back later. Sometimes later turns into tomorrow, and tomorrow turns into next week.
But every now and then, we have to get over ourselves for a second. Not for everybody… ha ha… but for the people who matter.
Because sometimes a text just isn’t enough. Sometimes people need to hear your voice. They need to know someone is thinking about them, praying for them, and standing with them. Especially when they’re carrying something heavy that they haven’t shared with anyone.
Sometimes people simply need to hear, “I love you. I’m praying for you. I see what you’re carrying, and you’re not alone.”
And we never really know how much those words might mean to someone. The person who looks strong may be exhausted. The person who’s smiling may be struggling. And the person who always checks on everyone else may need someone to check on them, too.
That’s why those small acts of kindness matter more than we realize. God often uses ordinary moments, everyday conversations, and ordinary people to deliver extraordinary encouragement.
You don’t have to have all the right words or know exactly what someone is going through. Sometimes just making the effort to reach out is enough to remind someone that they haven’t been forgotten.
This Week’s Tea: Don’t let the busyness of life make you forget the people who make life meaningful. Be intentional about checking in, showing love, and reminding the people in your circle that they matter. You don’t need a special occasion or a long conversation to let someone know you’re thinking about them. Sometimes a few minutes of your time can be the encouragement someone didn’t even know they needed.
Arlesia Cummings, Founder (Creative & Community Lead)