If You Feel a Nudge...

You've probably said it as many times as I have.

You see someone and open with, "I was just thinking about you..."

And if you've had that phrase said to you, you probably have the same thought I've had when I've heard it: "Mmmmmhmmmmm...suuuuuuurrrrrrrre you were."

But I know it's true. We really do think of people as we flutter through our days. Their names pop in our minds for any one of a number of reasons.

Maybe we drive past a restaurant where we ate together, and that makes us think that dinner or the conversation shared. Maybe we see a shirt at the store and know it would be the perfect gift. Maybe we see a commercial for the TV show our friends can quote in its entirety. Maybe we see a verse in the Bible and know it would be perfect for what they're going through.

But then...do we do anything?

I know I'm guilty of not following through on those little prompts. And I know I've been recently convicted about it.

Over the last few days, I've been trying to pay careful attention to moments when a name flutters through my mind for whatever reason, and then if at all possible, I stop right then to send a text (if I have the number) or a Facebook message or an email. If I can't stop right then, I do my best to follow up at the next available moment.

I will say it's an interesting habit to learn. I don't think I realized how many people come to my mind until I felt convicted to pay attention to those little nudges. And most of the time, I never know why they come to mind right in that moment. Maybe they just need to know someone is thinking of them. Maybe they need to know they matter. Maybe they need the actual words of encouragement sent their way.

Maybe the reasons aren't ours to know.

The little phrase I've started saying to myself is this: if you feel a nudge, you'd better budge. I'm trying to remind myself that those convictions are important, and the few seconds of pause I take to reach out could end up meaning more than I know to the person on the other end. (And even if not, I'm still being obedient to reach out, and that's what really matters.)

You don't have to have this conviction just because I do, but I also believe we could pretty quickly spread a lot of hope if we all slowed down enough to pay attention to the nudges.

Something to think about for your Monday!!