Ruth’s Recording

Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada. Some time ago, I called my friend Ruth who is in her 90s; I wanted to thank her for a gift. She wasn’t home, and so I got her answering machine. And at the “beep” I thanked her and then I sang a little song to her. Then, I forgot all about it! Until, that is, several years later, when Ruth quietly told me, “Joni, I want you to know I’m still playing your song. I saved it.” And I thought, play my song? What song? That’s when she told me that all these years she’d kept my recording on her phone machine. And whenever she needs a lift, when she needs a little encouragement, she hits the “play old messages” button on her answering machine. And I had to laugh! That is so like someone in her 90s!

You know, the Bible tells us to “Speak to one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs.” For when we do, we never, ever know what long-lasting encouragement it’ll bring!