Not Addicted To Social Media, Addicted to Self
February 22nd, 2010
The good stuff
“I have seen so many families over the years fall by the wayside, eventually, as one ideal after the other is compromised, and now few remain faithful and idealistic in the long run because life can be wearisome.
You have such precious children and husband and they are the story of your integrity that you will someday be able to offer you a platform as an encouragement to other women. How our culture needs women who know the reality of giving, sacrificing, teaching, loving and doing all because of our wonderful Lord’s love for children and His entrusting them into our hands.” (Excerpt taken from an email I received last week.)
Friends, I know that being a mom is tiring, often monotonous, and just plain hard (heck, you don’t have to be a mom to experience the battle fatigue of life!). I also know we only have one shot at this life gig, and I don’t know about you, but man I want to get it right (and when I say right, I mean do the hard stuff). I want to enjoy this online camaraderie that I am so blessed to have, without neglecting my family…my good husband (who is but a sinner, just like me) and my sweet blessings (who may seem like burdens sometimes, but that’s just because of my selfishness…and their little sin natures!).
I want to live a life that glorifies my God and fulfills my God-given feminine role.
And so I am faced with two poignant questions:
Am I willing to battle in this war being waged for my life and the lives of my family?
Am I willing to forgo the distractions that are set to besiege me into complacency?
Yes.
Yes.
Are you willing to fight alongside me?
P.S. The winners of the DownEast Basics giveaway are Jesica and Angela! Congrats – please email me with WINNER in the subject – sarahmae (at) likeawarmcupofcoffee (dot) com. :)
Your blog page always loads with two copies of the banner, stacked on top of each other and blocking part of the post. Today it covers most of the photograph so that I can only see from the chins down, but often it covers the first paragraph or more. I am using internet explorer version 8.06. I thought you might like to know so that you can fix the script.
No stinking way!! I don’t win things! Oh my goodness, I wish you could have heard the squealing going on in this room right now. Thank you!
And: Yes, Ma’am I am with ya! This is so right on with what I have been thinking about this week. God has been reminding me to set boundaries! And wouldn’t you know the second I obey and go back to the guidelines I originally set for myself, He showers me with blessings :) Thanks for this reminder, we all need it once in a while.
Angela @ Homegrown Mom´s last blog post … Routines, Rituals, and Traditions
Great post. An encouragement for everyone, even those of us who aren’t married or have kids yet!
:D
Kirsten Erin´s last blog post … Judged by the Masses
Yes, I am! I truly am… xo
Brenna´s last blog post … LIttle Girls and Lip Gloss
Yes.
eLisa´s last blog post … Living Intentionally Together: Pause. Reflect. Repent. Period.
Oh how I’ve missed you Sarah Mae!
You are so right…it’s the selfishness within. I tell myself often that I must be dead to self instead of “Slowly Dying 2 Self!”
smooches,
Larie
Hi Sandi, try this and let me know if it works: Click on “Compatibility View” (an icon right after the URL that looks like a piece of paper ripped in half) and that should fix it immediately. It’s an Internet Explorer (IE) issue.
As a sidenote, I encourage you to switch to Firefox or Google Chrome. :)
I am truly beginning to understand how important it is to just stop and pray for the Lord to remind me, when I’m feeling like my children are burdens, that they are blessings from Him.
I’ve been reminded by other wise women to pray continuously throughout the day. It will help give you a sense of peace and keep things in perspective. The past few days of praying has made a real change in my attitude.
Sbelle´s last blog post … Homemaker and Civil Rights Activist
God has been telling me this very same thing this week and convicting my heart severely. Let’s encourage one another to set and hold to the right priorities. It’s soooo hard to die to myself daily. My self is quite hardy!
Yes I am! :)
I recently blogged about feeling like a “stuck” at home mom rather than a stay at home mom… and how I realized after two days of volunteering (children in daycare) that I really WANT to be at home.
and although we all need a refresher sometimes…
that I CHOOSE to be home… and I don’t feel stuck anymore!
http://www.household6diva.com/2010/02/stuck-at-home-or-stay-at-home.html
Thank you for sharing this!
Ann Marie @ Household 6 Diva´s last blog post … Mamarazzi Monday Meme?
Amen. Thanks for the reminder.
Southern Gal´s last blog post … One more Happy Birthday wish
A great post and reminder. In our “plugged in” world it can be easy to let the more important things…like our families…get a little shoved to the side. We do indeed only have one life and it’s important to put those things that are most important to the forefront of our activities. Thanks Sarah :)
Kristine McGuire´s last blog post … Religion or Relationship?
It’s an escape isn’t it; a place where we can be the person we want to be and interact with other adults; a place where I can say something funny and five other people will laugh. (My kids are now teens – I am no longer funny.)
But it’s also a tool. I’ve connected with friends from high school on Facebook. I haven’t seen these gals in 25 years! They are still searching for peace, but are now finding truth as they read my blog. It’s an outlet for those amazing things that God is teaching me and I can’t wait to share.
But like all tools, it must be used very carefully. Just like many other things in life (including ministry in the church), it can easily steal our time and our hearts away from our families.
Oh to know how to balance it all!
Melinda´s last blog post … I’m Becoming My Parents.
Yes. I am with you!
This is such big prayer isssue for me right now. It is so easy to get distracted by incredible Godly blogs. They are in itself good. However, it is easy to focus time and attention there instead of on the Lord and my kids…especially on my kids:)
Flamingo Mama´s last blog post … Embracing Words
Melinda – I don’t think we can balance it all – we just have to pick and choose and let go – even in the good things. :)
Count me in! However, I do have to address my addiction to The Well Trained Mind message board…and I’m not stating this lightly. The WTM Board members have helped me immensely in my foray into homeschooling, and their advice, experience and input has been an encouragement. I just need to remember that my primary source of encouragement needs to be the Lord via scripture, prayer and my husband; and that while good and positive, the time spent on them must be managed wisely.
I unplugged from Facebook about 9 months ago after recognizing the unrelenting pull of social networking. I’m so glad I did.
I never knew HOW selfish I was until I had my son. It hasn’t gotten easier. Blech.
Heathahlee´s last blog post … My Current Favorite Commercial
Sarah Mae,
I am willing to fight alongside you so that we won’t miss and may receive all the special and meaningful things God has in store for each and every one of us.
Katherine
Count me in!! I’ve been feeling God impressing me that I need to get back to my first ‘true love’ and within that is wrapped my family and my purpose..
Thank you for the encouragement!
Mikki´s last blog post … Fearless by Max Lucado
The spirit of Christ has been leading me in this area! So I’m right there with you!! Here is a post I wrote about my journey and revelation. http://buildethherhousewithlove.blogspot.com/2010/02/focus.html
Valencia @ Buildeth her House´s last blog post … upgrade spice containers
Yes! Yes! A thousand times yes! I am with you. I have been parenting for 27 years. It the beginning it was with much zeal but as time went on it became a choice of will. I have 3 “arrows” we have launched and they are standing firm in truth as they are now raising their children.
I am left with other “arrows” still at home and though it often takes an act of obedience to remain faithful and to not compromise as we continue on! I have seen the fruit and it is oh so very good.
Dear ladies…stand firm, do not grow weary in well doing for you will reap a bountiful harvest if you continue on!
Yes, & Amen!! I’m with you!! :) It’s a battle that we MUST win!
Stacey @ The Blessed Nest´s last blog post … The Blessed Nest on Facebook
Sarah Mae, I think there can be balance. I think that we can be effective mothers and effective leaders. I do not think that one has to suffer so that one can thrive. It does sound as if you are having a time of struggle. I am too. I have taken a lot of my “social media” time out of my schedule. Does it help? Sure. Is there more I can cut? You bet. Does my family suffer? To an extent. Do I feel guilt? Sometimes. If you feel that God is calling you to close this area of your life, then there is nothing anyone can say to change your mind. We are thankful that you have been so open and honest in your life to share with others. For me, writing is something I gave up because I became a mother. I missed it so greatly, that I feel a need to blog. Not for others, but for me. I do not post daily, nor do I want to. I think I have balance. Sometimes, it leans a little one way or the other, but there is balance.
Brandi´s last blog post … Fighting for Family
After reading several posts of yours this week, I challenged myself in two ways:
1. ENJOYING my children and home during the day, not just enduring them
and
2. Asking God to guide my online time
Wow – He is moving in both areas already. I must admit, at first I resisted the conviction coming through your posts, but I feel freedom in this now. After all, it is all about Him and not about me anyway!
So YES I am with you! :)
Erin´s last blog post … "Hear No Evil" Winner!
I’m with you. . . thank you for …. our talk!
Alyssa´s last blog post … Community Manager with MomTV
Hi Brandi, :)
I do not feel (at this point) that God is calling me to give up writing, just to let go of all extra endeavors that I’ve been making a priority. I also think we can (and should) be effective mothers AND leaders, that is not the balance I speak of that one cannot maintain well. It is all the “doings” and “strivings” that I think we must lay down and prioritize instead of balance. Does that make sense?
Makes perfect sense. We get filled with the must do’s instead of the want to do’s. My husband and I were talking about a similar topic not long ago. He said that if we are asked to do something and have the time available to fit it in, it is not a calling rather than a something-I-have-to-do-add-one-more-thing-to-my-schedule. If we are asked to do something we feel called to do, we will move mountains to make it happen. As women, I do feel that we too often fill our plates with have to do’s and spend less time moving the mountains we are called to climb. I get the need to lay down more and make priorities in our life. I am on the same road you’re on. I am glad to share the journey, even if in a very small way.
Brandi´s last blog post … Fighting for Family
You are so awesome…and always real…and inspiring.
Kristen´s last blog post … Friday Follow-A little about myself
Excellent post as always Sarah Mae! I really am trying to work out what I will keep up with and what I will let go in order to give my best to the Lord and my family first.
Lisa @ Stop and Smell the Chocolates´s last blog post … Would You Like Chocolate With That? ~ Orange-Chocolate Slice Cookies
Something that God has definitely been weighing on me as well. Thank you for such an encouraging post. God has you here.. all of us here.. for a reason .. today it was to be an encouragement to me and the others! We serve such an amazing God who know what we need when we need it.
Felicia´s last blog post … Raising a Well-Mannered Child Series Part 2: Let’s Make a Deal!