I think the world understimates the power and the beauty of a phone call. A text message just doesn't do it. I always laugh because my far away distant friends I keep in touch with always call when they give me a life update. Something about the hearing of a voice is more poetic and real than simply reading the words. You really cannot hear excitement or concern or hesitation via text. This is probably why half the time (for those who know me) I rarely ever text or answer text messages. My phone is almost never on me. 

This past week we had a slew of standardized tests and one of my students happened to miss all three days due to illness. After trying to come in twice during the week only to go home because of his belly pain, I realized that Thursday was in need of a good phone call. The day prior he had looked just completely defeated. The class missed him. We made him a get well card and every day a student would come in they would inquire about him. Was he okay? Would he come back again soon? Was he feeling a little better? At around 3:30PM after the buses had officially rolled out for break, I dialed the number and was able to get a hold of his mom. We talked a bit an then she put him on the phone, and I could tell that his little voice was so excited. He was telling me how proud he was that his belly felt better, and he could run again. And just hearing his voice made me feel better. Because I could tell his spirit was finally back. As I told him on Tuesday when he was in tears, "Sometimes we have a little bug inside of us, and it may feel like it is taking forever to go away, but it will leave eventually. Some things just take time. And many things are out of our control." After a pause on the other end he added in his little voice, "Thanks for calling Mrs. Amoscato, I already feel much better."

A few hours later I received an email from his mom saying that the phone call must have been magical because he was feeling much better and was finally able to eat a full meal. 

I tell you what. Don't ever understimate the power of kind words. Reach out every once and a while to close friend. Even if they live five minutes or three hours away, make the point to give them a call. Perhaps it is not so much the whimsy in words that creates a beautiful and contagious love but the power of one's gentle voice that can make the world seem so much brighter.