Onto the actual subject matter:
Do you ever have a soapbox moment, a topic that you cannot get out of your head? Or maybe off your soul?
Let's begin by saying I love AND hate social media. When I think back to the time I graduated high school, we barely had cell phones. I look good for 45, no? Just kidding. I graduated in 2000, and things still SEEMED simple. If a guy wanted to get in contact with me, he had to call our landline phone. Email was up and running, but nothing like the one-sentence-fragment it seems to be today. I don't even know if people knew how to text, and, if they did, each text cost, like, $0.50. Right?
I love some Instagram. I might actually press my Facebook icon about 75 times a day, seemingly in a sick, addicting pattern. I want to upload the right profile pic, with my face turned just right and no zits obviously showing. I love when people tag me in posts, like somehow it will make my life of toddler poo and CONSTANT sweeping of food items more interesting.
But wow, girls. Social Media is now the ULTIMATE weapon. Let me explain.
Years ago, and maybe not even that long ago, if you wanted to make some passive-aggressive comments about a friend that you felt "judged" your decisions or had an attitude recently, you pretty much needed to make a phone call to one other friend or chat about it at church on a random Sunday. Now, all you need to do is find a handy Pin on Pinterest and, bam: you've made your point. Sure, you may be talking about one person in one instance, but now at least 75% of your female "adorers" are secretly worried that they might be the target of your cute meme. The sad part is, they just might be.
Form the line-up, and I'm guilt- as-charged. Being hurt by the slyness of a cunning female is age-old, but it stings as deep as ever. Throughout my life, my style of humor has always been labeled as dry, sarcastic, quick-witted, etc. That all points to a nice way of saying I can be MEAN. I can be resentful. I can be cold.
A few weeks ago, while having an awesome beach family vacation, I happened across a public post that was about me (included in a larger group). I won't go deeply into it, but a friendship ended (as many in this life do) without very much warning or sense. Now, I'm standing knee-deep in an eyeful of hateful, vicious comments about me. The funny part? I had actually done the right thing in the situation. I hadn't ever said anything hurtful, I had stuck to my beliefs and my standards for my life, and I had graciously exited. I didn't think myself better or holier than anyone. Strange, because I still let myself get that horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach, as if I had reacted inappropriately, accentuated by hashtags and rants on a level only social media can produce. In the years during the friendship, I had voiced often how I would see women strike out on their social media platform, thinking they were subtle and vague. In all actually, most of their readers had an idea of who their target was. I feel strongly they achieved their desired effect. But did anyone grow? Were things hashed out or worked through? Nope.
I love the book of Proverbs because it dishes out some straight-up, common-sense wisdom. One subject it covers often is about the power of the mouth; how fools use theirs, and how the wise control theirs. I am human. I am sinful. The day I read that awful, mean post, I want to post smarter, more sarcastic social media rebuttals. My Lord, however, warns against this.
When I close my eyes, and breathe the name of Jesus, I feel my selfish desires to hurt back ease a little. I hear Him speak to me that people who air dirty laundry and snide comments on social media have a lot to learn about being able to take things back later in life. The person I need to focus on is ME and my behavior. Is it kind? When my fellow females out there read what I portray for my life, does it encourage them, lift them up? Do they feel open to share their hurts, fears, and weaknesses?
It's in these moments I see the beauty of social media. I can think of the women that use it POWERFULLY to exalt and uplift. One special lady that comes to mind is Lysa Terkeurst. She has a ministry that uses her social media platforms in the darkest of my hours to post encouragement that can only be God-ordained in its timing and subject matter. If you like, follow her on Facebook and see if you're encouraged instantly!
Tonight, I pray your cup is full and you sleep peacefully with a circle of lovely friends that lift one another up! Ladies, you can change each other's lives for the good. Start tonight!
Goodnight and God Bless,
Sarah Beth
