One of the best things invented after the phone to keep families close that are miles and sometimes continents apart is Skype. Of course, the computer and the internet had to be invented first so I do want to pause and give them credit. However, I know two families that have benefited from using Skye; one has a brother in Afghanistan and the other a brother and sister-in-law doing ministry in Africa. Both of these families have young children and they want those kids uncles to be a part of their lives.
On the other side, it is a moral booster when you can not only hear but see the family at home. You get to see mother’s and father’s, kids and siblings and friends and spouses. It’s only natural to get a bit down and sometimes downright depressed when you can’t connect with a loved one so having a communication tool like Skye to connect with that person that is so far away is a Godsend to so many.