I was talking about a social media with some friends recently and the idea that people only post the highlights or good stuff in their lives was mentioned. Sometimes we compare our lives to what we see on Facebook or other outlets, and feel disappointed because our lives don’t seem as fun, or wonderful as theirs.  

There was an underlying tone that these “wonderful people posts” are fake or not authentic, and sometimes that may be the case, but I would like for you to consider a different mind set. A mind set that I have and that I have thought many times about putting into words, but never took the time to do it. Follow me if you can as I let in on my little world, and how wonderfully chaotic and maddening it can be. Some of you already know these things and and they won’t surprise you a bit! 

I have 2 boys, I was a widow at age 35, I remarried almost 2 years ago to a man that has 2 boys and an ex-wife. All these things in themselves make our lives a bit…what’s the word??? Let’s jus go with difficult, all these things make our lives a bit difficult at times. That’s 6 (7 if you include the 2 boys mother) different personalities all thrown in a blender and puréed. Wow! Some of the things we deal with are just down right exhausting! Here we have 2 adults that have had their share of hurts and disappointments and almost 40 years each of ways we have dealt with life. Now all the sudden we are trying to navigate through this blended family and be “good parents” with all these circumstances weighing in on us. Oh yeah, have I mentioned that on top of these family things we are also dedicated to two ministries at our church, we are introducing sports, we have 4 dogs, 4 goats, and a business? That just skims the surface of how busy our lives can be.  

So you may ask (or just say to yourselves) “Why is their life so fun?” or “I wish we were as happy as they were!” The reality is you see the highlight reel, but you know what?? I’m ok with that, you know why? Because I have done a LOT of work on my self-worth and my identity. I chose to let my identity be in Christ. I have, and will continue to study God’s word and really dig in to finding out how God wants us to live and deal with life’s gut punches. He doesn’t want these things so that we can be “good people” His word tells us how to think and respond so that we may have peace and joy! Even in the midst of our craziness or chaos. 

We are not perfect people that always have the best time or the most peaceful home. We mess up sometimes (a lot of times). We yell at our kids, we get frustrated with each other. We have moments that seem overwhelming and unfulfilling, but we choose not to focus on those moments any longer than we have to. There is one scripture that I will leave with you as to why I always post the good and choose to leave out the less desirable. There are many, many more I could post, but this is one of my scriptures! One that I try to use as a filter before I speak, sometimes I fail miserably at it, especially in a heated moment and for that I confess and repent, but if we could all do these things we would find more footage on our highlight reel. 
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:8-9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/php.4.8-9.esv
As a side note I want to say how thankful I am for my Tuesday night Ridge Recovery ladies. Many times I have asked them to pray for me and my blended family. They allow me to vent and share and they suit up for battle for me and my family and pray hard! I feel their prayers and I couldn’t imagine doing life without them!