A word can be a sentence, and three words (or fewer) can be an entire paragraph.

And if you have or have had a teenager, you, especially, know this to be true.

There often isn’t a lot our son, a new high school graduate on his way to college soon, feels that he needs to say.

I don’t push it. I’ve learned not to.

One day as he prepared for finals a few weeks ago, he and I had been parallel-tracking all day, he busy with his work in his room, me busy with mine in my office.

At some point, I felt the void of communication, even though I know it’s just the way it is at this stage. I sometimes miss the chattiness, the sharing of his earlier years. But there’s no bringing it back, and there’s no stopping time.

Knowing all that, I still sought a brief connection with Matt this particular evening. I knocked on his door, feeling a bit impish.

I waited for sounds of acknowledgment of any kind, then opened the door and waited for more…eye contact.

And this is how the conversation went:

“Yeah?” (Matt)

“I’m seeking human contact,” (me, pausing).

“Yeah.”

“Do we have it?”

“Yeah.”

I smiled and closed the door.

It was enough.

Sometimes a little can say a lot.

Communication and caring – with whomever you’re trying to reach – often doesn’t take much.

Sometimes a moment will do.