We built with magna-tile building toys. It was my youngest son and I. It was a day to be indoors as it was raining, not very warm and the wind was fairly intense. We spent a good amount of time using our creativity and creating our own little masterpieces. It was not only quality time with my youngest, it was time away from electronics. I am guilty of being easily distracted by my phone. I recently had this conversation with someone. How phones are such a great resource, tool, and a way to have fun. However, they can also feel a bit like a tether. We’re always seemingly wearing them in our pockets. Quite frankly, if you’re like me, I always feel like I need to answer right away or respond to messages immediately. Within the last year or so, I started keeping my phone on silent and just checking it frequently. The constant ringing or dinging of my phone, started to feel overwhelming. Though phones are an incredible tool especially for safety and connection, it is easy to get distracted and consumed by it. Though I am grateful for my phone, I am reminded how sometimes we need to set our phone aside and not be so glued to it. It was nice setting my phone to the side and sitting on the floor with my youngest and building together. For I know it was more than just building together, it was bonding. It was full, undistracted attention. It was my son and I, in the quiet, with rain in the background as we built real memories. There’s also been many times where I have been distracted with electronics and put it over spending time with God. Friend, in a world filled with technology, may we not be consumed by it. Though its true it is good to have, may we not let it take precedence over what matters most, who matters most.

Erin Fitts-Brower

Colossians 3:2 NIV

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.