I’ll admit it: I love my lil pup Bea. If anyone follows me on facebook, you’ve seen her. Bea also has her own instagram, so you might see her there too (@bea.attitudes). It’s completely out of control, for sure!
Just look at her – you have to admit, she’s the sweetest in the world. Bea follows me around everywhere. Unlike other small dogs I’ve been around, she’s not yippy or snappy – she’s pretty chill and very friendly. And she only weighs 5 pounds, so she’ll be a tiny thing forever – just the perfect size!
So, the other day I posted a picture of her on social media (of course!) – I’m pretty sure I was at my pool with Bea, a splashproof Bluetooth speaker, a diet coke and a stack of books: all the ingredients I need for a very nearly perfect sunny day! One comment was, “Jennifer, you need friends.” LOL!
Well, Facebook and world, please let me explain 🙂 I know lots of people who love to post on social media, (I wrote an earlier blog about social media here) and there is nothing wrong with that! Post away, friends! No judgment, no complaint from me – to be honest, I like to see your posts! For me (probably like you), I love being out with friends. I love going to lunch and I love hanging out and I love the beach and I love shopping and I love all kinds of things – however, I don’t want to take a break from the fun to post on social media. Occasionally, I’ll post after the fact (kid graduated, I’ll post a few pics later. Kid went to prom, I’ll post a few pics later. My BFF of over 25 years came to spend a long weekend – we took one picture the entire visit, and I posted it later), but it’s pretty unusual for me to post in the moment. If I’m out it’s because I want to be out.
It’s pretty “little old lady” of me, I’ll admit, but here’s how I feel about my phone and in the 24-hour-a-day-access-to-everything: it’s there for my convenience, not so I can be reached at any second of any day. If it dings and it’s convenient, I’ll respond. If it rings and it’s inconvenient, I’ll let it go to voicemail and get to it later. Most of the time if I’m out, the phone is either left in my car or put on silent if I carry it. No one thinks it rude to take time out of a conversation to take a selfie and check in and post, not even me – I just don’t want to do it. I don’t mind if my friend takes a picture to post – that’s lots of fun! It’s just not where my mind is at the moment. What I do like is a face-to-face time with you across the table sharing a coffee or a meal. What I like is to disconnect from the world for a while. When I’m hanging out with my kids or with you, I want to be fully in that moment – and if the facebook community isn’t made aware that we enjoyed a meal at the Oxford Exchange or bought all kinds of treasures at SoHo, well, somehow life will go on! Graduations and prom preparations and late night chats with my BFF and Starbucks with the girls, those are mine. I’ll let facebook know about it, or I won’t, either is fine. Even though it’s all not on facebook, life is pretty happy and blessed!
The other thing is: I’m completely unable to multi-task while I’m on social media. Those minutes that I am posting a picture or updating my status? Completely LOST. I didn’t hear you, I didn’t see you. I’m able to multi-task on other things, and I know people who can multi-task on facebook, but I just can’t do it! Probably it’s another little-old-lady-trait!
This was just a silly example, really, and I hope you aren’t taking me too seriously: you do what is best for you. Bea Puppy doesn’t mind if I post, and I don’t mind losing that minute on FB when its just me and the pup 😉 However, there are moments that are intended for wholeheartedness. There are moments in life that are only for you or only for those closest to you. There are moments in life that the Lord gives to us and us alone. Don’t feel guilty about keeping those things in your heart. Don’t be afraid to disconnect, if only for that moment, and be singular in your purpose. How about these, a couple of treasures for you to hold on to for a little bit:
“Put me together, one heart and mind;
then, undivided, I’ll worship in joyful fear.
From the bottom of my heart I thank you, dear Lord;
I’ve never kept secret what you’re up to” Psalm 86:12 MSG
or
“I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart;
I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
I will be glad and rejoice in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High” Psalm 9:1-2 NKJV
Let your time with the Lord be just that – and as you open His Word, let this noun/treasure become an alive verb/treasure. Keep those few moments to yourself and Jesus – I’m praying as you treasure His Words in your heart, you’ll be blessed. ❤
Jennifer 🙂
p.s. if the Lord does tell you something amazing and you can share, I hope you will – I love amazing things! I’ll share too – I’ll just do it later!