Earlier this year the phone companies stopped supporting the software for my old 3G flip phone so like the rest of the modern world I was forced to buy a new Smart Phone. I didn’t use it much at first, only to get a call from my daughter or to play a game or two. Soon, however, I found it far easier to surf the web or check out facebook on the smart phone than my computer. Even with my limited time I quickly found myself spending more and more of it on this phone. It happened almost without me noticing it.

Yesterday I was on it scrolling and scrolling through the sea of stories, posts, news, and videos. Then suddenly a long, white, furry nose pushed its way between me and my phone. I started to push it away but that only got me a lick from my chin to my glasses. Laughing I put the phone down, took my smeared glasses off and petted my dog. Soon we were hugging, romping around, and playing fetch down the hallways of my home. And I noticed something too. There was a feeling in my heart: a wonderful mixture of love, laughter, and joy. It was a feeling that I hadn’t gotten once during all that time I had spent on my phone.

Strange how it took a dog to remind me of what is important for our souls. I vowed then to spend less time on my addictive phone and more time doing the important things in life like hugging my children, talking to my friends, writing letters, loving others and even playing with my dogs. It is these things that fill my heart with love. It is these things that fill my days with joy. It is these things that bring me closer to Heaven, goodness, and God.

Technology is here to stay. But we shouldn’t let it control us or our time. We should use it only when it helps us to do the important things like loving each other, making this world a better place, or growing closer to our Heavenly Father while we are still here on Earth.