So, I admit it... my love for community compels me to share countless photos, videos, and stories about our life over here.
The truth behind the matter is that I'm homesick... the closest family we have is 3,000 miles away, and it is a comforting feeling to share sweet Micah moments (and a few others) with those we love. We have a lot of people who ask for videos and photos, and it is a bit overwhelming to constantly send out email after email, so I just post for friends and loved ones in our social media "family".
I sometimes wrestle with this, because I know it seems pretty self-absorbed to announce the goings-on in the Patterson world day in and day out, but I guess I'll let the Lord guide my heart on this one, instead of letting insecurity motivate my decisions.
And here is a recent reflection about it:
I'm aware that many moments should be left within these four walls of our home, and even though I am very open about what I'm learning, I still seek to use discretion as much as I know how. I recently listened to a podcast about social media and our motives for posting and sharing. It motivated me to check myself before hitting the "post" button. Lately, I have been thinking quite a bit about this, and I realize that sometimes my motives are probably not as pure as they could be. Perhaps my homesickness and feelings that we may be "missing out" on others' lives drives me to self-promote in a way that says "don't forget about us, we're important..." gross, right? God, help me!
As I learn this lesson, I am praying that God will guide my use of social media in a way that brings honor to Him, so that I don't elevate the Patterson (or Shelby) name above His. This is not always easy, but I'm challenged to work on it.
Thanks for letting me share my heart. It's a healthy outlet for me.
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