Why I Didn't Shut Down My Facebook Page

A few weeks ago, I updated my Facebook "status" that I was closing my page down.  I had closed my Twitter account several months ago, so (it seemed) Facebook was up next.  Some responses to my announcement actually surprised me -- friends who did not want me to shut down my page.  And there were various reasons -- keeping up with my grandkids, just getting back in touch with each other & just simply missing our contact with each other. 

These responses actually lead me to really contemplate "why" I'm on Facebook to begin with ...

how do I use my account ...

what do I post ...

who do I reach out to with my posts ...

And I came up with a few answers ...

•  I love sharing about my family --- God has blessed me beyond any stretch of the imagination that I deserve with my family ... I have the most awesome husband, wonderful daughter & son-in-law, and of course my adorable grandchildren ... some situations come with prayer requests ... some with cute stories ... but I just love my family (and not just those living under our same roof, but I include ALL of my family).

• I love to read comments --- my reaction is "WOW somebody actually read (or at least glanced at) what I posted!!!"

• I also love looking at pictures --- some people I haven't seen for many many years, so it's good to see their families of today (some of us are grandparents now, so the pics of grandchildren are always nice to see -- while some still have younger children & it's good to keep up with them as well) ... and of course I LOVE looking at pictures posted by my family of our childhood days.

• I love reconnecting with friends who I grew up with & haven't seen in a long time --- with friends of today as we go through each of our days with busy agendas & commitments and sometimes just do not see each other face to face very often --- with friends I have yet to meet in person but have developed a close friendship with in our online communities.

• And I love just being able to stay in touch --- whatever the circumstance ... whatever the occasion ... whatever is happening in our lives at the time --- Facebook has provided a means of simply staying in touch.

Now, there's many reasons why others are on Facebook --- 

keeping in touch ... highlighting prayer needs ... promoting various aspects (people, businesses, products, etc) -- which I do too.   My homepage is filled with friends' sharing pictures/updates on their families, sharing inspirational pictures & verses/quotes, cute little quips that may or may not have a moral message, recipes, games (which I could do without, but I simply do not play them), some tributes to loved ones who have passed this life on earth.  

A wide array of everyday life is found on my Facebook homepage.  But there's one aspect of Facebook that this Granny always ("tries to" anyway) keeps in mind {this is a lesson that my Granny instilled in her children & her grandchildren} --- 

whatever you say, make sure you can put it in writing & sign your name to it

Once I make a post (status, comment, "like", etc) ... it is forever documented for the world to see & read.  I've heard some people refute this by saying:

I really don't care what people think of me, this is just how I feel

No one else can see it except for them & their friends

Well, I just send private messages so no one else will see what I write

However "valid" these reasonings may be, social media has provided an electronic signature that will keep words written forever.  Once we push that "send" button, it's documented & those words cannot be retracted.  'Well, but if I hit the "delete" button it will go away' ... That may be true ... but only to a certain extent.  I am still responsible to a Higher Authority than any Facebook notifications, administrations or privacy settings.

I believe that one day I will stand accountable in front of God for everything I posted on any social media site. I can "justify" ... I can "reason" ... I can simply make up any excuse I want ---

but I am still responsible
 

There's many aspects of Facebook that I can simply do without.  But I enjoy connecting & reconnecting ... remembering & sharing ... I simply enjoy seeing my Facebook family & friends.  And I try to remember my Granny's words of wisdom of signing my name.  However in our world of social media & Internet technology, we really don't have to literally "sign our name" ... it's already been done for us.

Facebook & other social media can actually be a positive aspect in each of our lives ... 

it's just simply all in how we use it.

Social Media: My New Respect

Facebook ... Twitter ... blogs ... CaringBridge ... emails ...
I'm learning with each passing day that social media may not be such the enemy that I had prematurely thought. The past week has given me some new respect for this main-stay in my life. Here's some of what I've come to realize that I can do:

~~~ Review headlines from sites of my choosing

~~~ Engage in real-time 'conversations' with my friends at any given time

~~~ Share pictures of my family through albums/wall photos and don't have to worry about acid-free paper/albums

~~~ Pray for friends who are hurting

~~~ Enjoy doing something new

~~~ Connect with people whom I've lost touch with over the years

~~~ Touch people's hearts by listening to theirs

These are just a few ways that I have new respect for the social media that has crept upon me. I want to challenge myself in this media aspect to utilize social networking as a means to connect and share with others. My 'community' grows smaller everyday as I expand my acceptance and participation in our world of social media.

I joke with Granddad that my desired career is to be a hermit. But that's not what God put us on this Earth for. We need to fellowship and build relationships with others so that we can collectively and individually worship Him. We weep with them who weep; and rejoice with them that do rejoice. And Where two or more are gathered in my name, there I am also. God can work in the social media realm ... it's just up to us to allow Him to use it in whatever way He sees fit.