We have all had at least one of “those phone calls” in our lifetime. Some of those phone calls break our hearts.  Some of those phone calls bring us joy.  Some of those phone calls send us to our knees.  Maybe a few of those phone calls cause us a quick panic – followed by laughter later on!  Some of those phone calls were probably placed by you.

Those joyous phone calls we make and receive include – “I’m engaged”, “I’m going to have a baby”, and “I got the job”.  All those bring smiles to our face.  The joy we feel when we get to make the call is hard to compare to the joy we feel when we are the one receiving the call. As I age, getting those calls brought such a different type of joy!  

“When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty.”   Jeremiah 15:16

Those sad phone calls that we receive that share devastating news are the tough ones.  The early morning call that our newborn premature son was not expected to survive the day and the pre-dawn call that my granddaddy was not expected to survive the day were two of the hardest to accept.  But God got us through and gave each of them an extra day so that goodbyes could be made.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”  Matthew 5:4  

Those fear-inducing phone calls we receive when a loved one has been in an accident send us to our knees. The first such call, I heard that my husband had been in a serious accident and had a head injury.  That thirty minute drive to the accident site was torture!  The second time my husband received the call that our youngest daughter had been in an accident.  The EMT’s words “she is stable right now” was very discouraging to us.  The three hours it took us to arrive at her bedside were only made easier knowing a good friend of hers was by her side and keeping us informed.  (Both my husband and our daughter recovered fully.) 

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”   Psalm 56:3   

There was one odd phone call that was fear inducing for a brief moment, a little humorous for some time. One Friday night in the days of landlines with caller ID, I answered an incoming call from the Georgia State Patrol in the middle Georgia area.  Since our daughter was in college in that  area I answered very timidly.  I was greeted with this message – “Good evening Mrs. Milner, I am sorry to call you on a Friday night. I am calling from the State Troopers benevolence fund office.”   Now, I admit that I hardly hear him beyond the “I am sorry” part . Once my heart ceased to pound in my ears, I gave him the advice of finding a new way to introduce himself!