Ok let’s talk about our family screen time challenge results. (I asked if anyone wanted to join me in this leading up to Easter last week, and they did!) The one with the least minutes of screen-time is the winner. And I actually don’t know the results as far as the winner yet (we didn’t coordinate figuring that out last night).
But I do have other results:
- More one-on-one talking
- More productivity
- More love for my family
- Less mind-pinging (my mind is always racing these days)
- More stillness and direction
- More organization
Oh and so much more.
I will admit I missed a few things without reminders and being slow to check texts. One pretty important thing: my nephew’s mission call opening on Instagram. Yikes!
But to be fair, that all worked out just fine and I’m so excited for that kid! He and his three cousins close to his age will all be in the Mexico MTC overlapping for at least a few days, how cool is that?
Ok, but back to the challenge.
I missed a few things. But what I gained was so beautifully valuable.
I was reminded once again that it really is ok not to be tethered to my phone all the time.
One of my favorite results of limiting screen time
One of my favorite things that happened as a result of putting my phone away so much was that one afternoon after school Lu and I had some time together, just the two of us.
Because I wasn’t as distracted as usual and I was able to “see” my girl so much better. She had just completed the first part of the ACT test which is a whole new ballgame when you can’t see very well. She was needing something to buoy her up and didn’t fight my idea to catch up on our Holy Week reading.
We read in Matthew 25:
“For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in…Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
vv. 35, 40
And right then I remembered I had planned to see if we could maneuver an evening to work at La Mesa Ministries. Lo and behold, as we sat reading Matthew 25 it happened to be the very evening when they were serving their Easter dinner.
It also happened to be a night where Lucy’s piano teacher happened to have a shift in teaching times.
Lu and I looked at each other with wide eyes and realized we could make this happen! This girl LOVES this place, and lights up each time we go. It’s been a while so she was excited to get back there.
It’s hard to explain the swelling of my heart as we both kicked into action cutting up pies and helping to serving that Easter meal to the swell of homeless friends who were gathered there that night. There is something pretty special about that place. I was so in love with Lucy’s heart as she took it upon herself to be sure everyone got applesauce to go with their meal.
I loved looking in the eyes of the people in line, learning a little more about them. Sharing the Easter message together: Jesus is Risen. Hallelujah!
It was a good night.
Followed by a good sunset on the way back to piano lessons.
And as we drove I was just thankful my phone hadn’t distracted me from that opportunity.
Now to figure out how to go forward and find the right balance with technology.
Of course, not every night is going to be like that one. But I love that we all just noticed a difference.
A big one.
When we looked up more this last week.
