“The whole world used the same language, the same words.” (Genesis 11:1) Imagine a world of people who completely understood one another. I challenge you to find one family that completely understands each member. 

I prefer texting as a way of communication for several reasons. I can consider my answer and change it before I send it, you can’t call words back after they have been spoken. I can respond when the time is good for me allowing me to think about what I want to say instead of blurting out the first thing that comes to mind. I am able to communicate with many more people than would be possible if I were making phone calls all day. I have the conversation saved, in writing, with dates–in case any questions arise.

However, there are also many drawbacks that come with the convenience: punctuation or lack thereof, misspelled words not corrected, an unexpected long pause–all of which cause misunderstanding. I shared something quite sad with my mother-in-law, by text. She answered back “LOL.” I sat and looked at those three letters, which in my mind meant “laughing out loud.” I could not think of any possible reason she would reply in such a rude manner. I almost walked away from the conversation, hurt a little and confused a lot. Instead, I asked her what she was laughing about.

On her side of the screen, I’m sure she wondered, “How could she possibly think I would laugh at that?” To me she said it meant  “lots of love,” and she would never use another acronym again. If we had heard each other’s voices, I would have known she was trying to comfort me. There would have been no miscommunication. 

New ways to communicate bring new ways to confuse and anger each other if we aren’t careful and thoughtful, which is like a party for Satan. Use punctuation, read what you are sending and ask when you aren’t sure what the other person is trying to tell you. “If possible and to the extent that it depends on you, live in peace with all the people.”  (Romans 12:8)