Listening to Promptings

    My five year old daughter LOVES her Godfather.  She calls him “Mister Bwyan,” but he has been known as her babysitter (he’d babysit for us to give Teresa and me a night out), her fellow bubble blower and chaser, her chief story reader, the best friend and manipulator of Tevye (a puppet), and her center of attention when he is in the room.  Since the snow came, these past three days he has been the one with whom she shares her news.

    Now Mister Bwyan lives four hours away, but that doesn’t stop my daughter from connecting with her, and connect she has.  When she comes in from playing in the snow she looks at us and says, “Let’s call Mister Bwyan.”  At first we picked up the phone and hit speed dial, but now she walks over, picks up the cell, opens it and holds it up for us to push the button.  Then she proceeds to give him the update and share whatever is on her mind.
    She’ll share what she’s been doing, what we’ve been doing, and of course, anything that relates to the snow.  We went sledding, “Let’s call Mister Bwyan.”  She built a snow man, “Let’s call Mister Bwyan.”  Oh, and by the way, Mister Bwyan was MY friend first, and I rarely get a chance to talk before she says, “See ya.  Bye,” then slams the phone shut and runs off to play some more.
    It’s been endearing to watch and pleasing to my wife and me, and at least for me, it has made me pause.  After all, what she is doing is living in relationship.  She freely allows herself to go with where the relationship will take her, so when she feels a prompting to talk to Mister Bwyan, she picks up the phone and talks.  Once she’s said her peace or heard her word of encouragement from him (I’d not know since I’m not privy to their conversations), she moves on to the next thing...until the next prompting.

    This is such a busy time for so many people.  We’re busy shopping or wrapping or going to parties.  We’re so busy in fact that it can be easy to charge ahead and neglect to listen for the promptings of our hearts and minds.  We can have so much to do that we don’t stop to make that call or share that news, both of which are important for the teller and the listener.
    I know Anna gets a lot out of those calls, but I know that her godfather does as well.  Heck, we get a lot out of them, seeing it from this end.

    In watching my daughter so freely respond to her promptings, it has spurred me to try and be more intentional in following my promptings.  Promptings to call a friend, loved one, or parishioner who comes to mind.  Promptings to write a note or share a story.  Promptings to help the neighbor in need and even look for opportunities to serve.  However, the biggest reminder for me is the prompting to check in with God.
    I want to be more like Anna.  I want to freely check in with God.  Far less than I’d like to think I do, I don’t take the time to simply call on God and share my day, relate my thoughts, or share my joy.  I’d imagine, if I did it more, God would be pleased, I would be blessed, and others might even see in me the kinds of things my daughter has taught me over the last few days – the importance of listening to promptings and responding.

How can we be more open to listen and respond?  Are we willing to follow through with whatever we hear?