Connections

People need connections.

My friend, Barbara, shared a story about her mother. Her mother suffered from dementia the last years of her life, and she resided in a nursing facility. One day Barbara got a call from the nursing home, because her mother had pulled the fire alarm. When the attendant asked her why she had done it, she explained, “Because no one would talk to me.”

People who hunger for attention find ways to get others to notice. The unruly child who constantly needs discipline at school, may be trying to get the attention he doesn’t get at home. The neighbor who continually asks for help, or to borrow something, may just be lonely. The one who posts the most outlandish things on social media, may be trying to get others to think him significant.

God made us for relationship. We are designed to connect with God, and make connections with other people. A lack of either relationship leaves an emptiness. It’s a hole which cannot be filled with lesser things. People may try to fill the void in their spirit with work, money, fame, endless parties, overeating, intense exercise, or any number of other things or activities. But nothing fully satisfies. We need God. We need other people.

When someone asked Jesus which was the greatest commandment, Jesus summed up all the commandments with “Love the Lord your God with all your heart . . . love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments,” (Matthew 22:37-40).

The Scriptures tell us again and again, Jesus saw people. He saw a crippled woman, and healed her (Luke 13). He saw  Peter, Andrew, James and John before He called them as disciples (Matthew 4:18,21). He saw the crowd, and had compassion on them–He viewed them as sheep without a shepherd. When the crowd intruded on His retreat with His disciples, He laid aside His own weariness to teach and feed them (Mark 6:30-44). He saw Mary weeping at Lazarus’ tomb, and He wept with her (John 11:33-35). He saw His mother, in spite of His own suffering on the cross, and made a point of providing for her care through John (John 19:26-27). Jesus saw people. He saw their needs. He took time to meet the needs of the people around Him.

The night before Jesus would go to the cross, he washed His disciples’ feet. He counseled them, going forward, to do the same for each other. Most likely, He was not teaching them about washing feet. He was teaching them about humble service. He wanted them to care for each other, and to be involved in each other’s lives.

We connect with God the Father through Jesus, God the Son. When we acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior, we gain entrance into God’s family (John 1:12). As part of God’s family, we are responsible to care for the other members of His family. As we show love to unbelievers, they too may be drawn to want to be part of God’s family. (Galatians 6:10)

May we learn to see the people around us and have compassion on their needs. May we make connections with them. May no one have to pull a fire alarm to get our attention.

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13:35-36

I would love to hear your thoughts. Please leave a comment below.

Blessings,
Phyllis

© 2026 Phyllis L. Farringer

Image by Renee Gaudet from Pixabay