On any given day if you are scrolling down the Facebook news-feed one might see pictures of a couple madly in love, children happily enjoying the rides at Busch Gardens, a group of friends having a night out on the town, others at the movies, a friend's new haircut, another loosing weight, new house, new re-model, and
smiles, smiles and more smiles!
But when one is having a no good, rotten, horrendous, dreadful, or in other words, an all around crappy day, all those beaming grins, tender looks, and expressions of delight can lead one straight down the road to envy.
I'm just being honest here. How can everyone have a great day every day?! It's not possible or I'm just living a life differently than everyone I know.
Life is hard. Marriage is tough. Parenting is challenging-(it's actually what knocks me out into a deep sleep every night). Home schooling is demanding. Ministry can be heart breaking. Friendships sporadically laborious. I'm sorry, but that's my day-to-day reality as I am working hard to make a happy life. It's true. Believe it or not my life is hard. Don't get me wrong, I really do love my life, but it's a whole lot of digging deep, working hard, being consistent, staying up late, waking up early, to get to those happy moments.
One day my daughter and I were perusing all the inspiring items in Hobby Lobby when she spied a canvas that read, "Work Hard and Be Happy." She looked at me and said in her perfect 'Miranda-Sings' impersonation, "That's not correct. It should say, 'Work hard to be Happy" She already knows that it's a choice and it's hard work to be happy. My reality is this: life is work and many times it's hard, but God blesses me with some really sweet moments. Sincerely, God has given me many, many, joys in my life, and maybe I don't see them every day. Maybe I feel like I'm in the muck and mire most of the time that I don't even realize how many blessings I've been afforded, but for many of the ones I have had, they aren't always picture taking, slapping up on Facebook, worthy.
So, for all of you out there who struggle with a busy, active, overloaded life, who generally have a full plate, and don't take the time to take a picture and post it up on Facebook, I understand. For all of you who see everyone else laughing until their sides hurt and you weren't a part of it, I get it. For those who feel their life is boring, I sympathize. You're not the only one sitting on the couch and turning green. But let me share with you something I have figured out- the reality of facebook is not a reality at all. It is one picture, one event, one special moment from one person's life. Sure, there are lots of pictures and moments, but it's not all coming from one life. My news-feed is showing me the scattered moments from over one-hundred different people. Okay, so maybe that fact doesn't help much because you still think your life is uninteresting, monotonous, and humdrum, but there is hope!
I have found that when I'm home with my husband and children playing games, talking, or laughing together over an episode of the Partridge Family, or laughing so hard with a friend while working out at the YMCA that I can barely do the workout correctly, or simply having lunch with my in-laws, I'm happy. I am content. I don't need the world to see it. I don't need a picture to remind me or tell me or anyone else that I am blessed. I already know that in my heart. I don't need Facebook to tell me that my life is blessed.
For the times when I'm reading the Bible and a Word jumps out at me and ministers to my heart, or when I see an answer to prayer, or even when one of my children prays a prayer of faith, there is no picture that could ever capture the joy in my heart- for Jesus is my joy.
Sure, my life may not look as glamorous as many on Facebook, but for me the tender moments that I have had and will continue to have I treasure and they are the ones I keep to myself. The stuff that no one on facebook sees. And if you are struggling to find the treasured moments all I can say is..."You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13) God is waiting to bless you, rejoice over you, and basically give you a 'facebook' worthy day! Seek Him and you will find pure joy.
"You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." (Psalm 16:11)
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." (Romans 12:12)
smiles, smiles and more smiles!
But when one is having a no good, rotten, horrendous, dreadful, or in other words, an all around crappy day, all those beaming grins, tender looks, and expressions of delight can lead one straight down the road to envy.
I'm just being honest here. How can everyone have a great day every day?! It's not possible or I'm just living a life differently than everyone I know.
Life is hard. Marriage is tough. Parenting is challenging-(it's actually what knocks me out into a deep sleep every night). Home schooling is demanding. Ministry can be heart breaking. Friendships sporadically laborious. I'm sorry, but that's my day-to-day reality as I am working hard to make a happy life. It's true. Believe it or not my life is hard. Don't get me wrong, I really do love my life, but it's a whole lot of digging deep, working hard, being consistent, staying up late, waking up early, to get to those happy moments.
One day my daughter and I were perusing all the inspiring items in Hobby Lobby when she spied a canvas that read, "Work Hard and Be Happy." She looked at me and said in her perfect 'Miranda-Sings' impersonation, "That's not correct. It should say, 'Work hard to be Happy" She already knows that it's a choice and it's hard work to be happy. My reality is this: life is work and many times it's hard, but God blesses me with some really sweet moments. Sincerely, God has given me many, many, joys in my life, and maybe I don't see them every day. Maybe I feel like I'm in the muck and mire most of the time that I don't even realize how many blessings I've been afforded, but for many of the ones I have had, they aren't always picture taking, slapping up on Facebook, worthy.
So, for all of you out there who struggle with a busy, active, overloaded life, who generally have a full plate, and don't take the time to take a picture and post it up on Facebook, I understand. For all of you who see everyone else laughing until their sides hurt and you weren't a part of it, I get it. For those who feel their life is boring, I sympathize. You're not the only one sitting on the couch and turning green. But let me share with you something I have figured out- the reality of facebook is not a reality at all. It is one picture, one event, one special moment from one person's life. Sure, there are lots of pictures and moments, but it's not all coming from one life. My news-feed is showing me the scattered moments from over one-hundred different people. Okay, so maybe that fact doesn't help much because you still think your life is uninteresting, monotonous, and humdrum, but there is hope!
I have found that when I'm home with my husband and children playing games, talking, or laughing together over an episode of the Partridge Family, or laughing so hard with a friend while working out at the YMCA that I can barely do the workout correctly, or simply having lunch with my in-laws, I'm happy. I am content. I don't need the world to see it. I don't need a picture to remind me or tell me or anyone else that I am blessed. I already know that in my heart. I don't need Facebook to tell me that my life is blessed.
For the times when I'm reading the Bible and a Word jumps out at me and ministers to my heart, or when I see an answer to prayer, or even when one of my children prays a prayer of faith, there is no picture that could ever capture the joy in my heart- for Jesus is my joy.
Sure, my life may not look as glamorous as many on Facebook, but for me the tender moments that I have had and will continue to have I treasure and they are the ones I keep to myself. The stuff that no one on facebook sees. And if you are struggling to find the treasured moments all I can say is..."You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13) God is waiting to bless you, rejoice over you, and basically give you a 'facebook' worthy day! Seek Him and you will find pure joy.
"You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." (Psalm 16:11)
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." (Romans 12:12)
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