When I started this blog, it was mainly for me. I never really dreamed anyone would want to listen to anything I might have to say. Soon after I started writing, we took our kids out of public school, and started this grand adventure called home education.
Most people around me thought {and still may think} we were crazy. Through other blogs I found like-minded families who also felt called by the Lord to teach their children at home. These blogs are where I found curriculum ideas, classroom ideas, examples of organization, and most of all-I found friendship.
In the world of blogging, we have our own voice, free to shout to the world. It’s a good thing- most of the time; but, amidst all of this feel-good, you can also find:
Egos. Peer pressure. Hurt feelings.
Things that hurt, isolate, and make you doubt who your friends are.
You’ve seen it too-
“You’re still on Blogger?” “Who do you write for?” “You do giveaways??”
{For the record- I just don’t like WordPress!!! I write for several other blogs, but I don’t have to. And I love giveaways!}
Then you have the bloggers where every single time you read, you wonder why you ever wanted to follow the blog in the first place. The one with a perfect life: perfect house, perfect children, perfect neighborhood. The one that knows no bad day.
I know I don’t excel in every area. I don’t have all of the parenting questions answered. My house is no longer spotless each day. I eat too much chocolate. {especially on bad days}
I trip. I cry. I fail.
I try to share my failings with you, along with a few victories.
Transparency is tough, but who wants to hang out with Miss Perfect anyway? I need some friends with junk in their closets too!
So I weed out the chaff.
I don’t continue to read blogs who never respond back. I don’t read blogs who only have fabulous days. I read the blogs whose writers convict me one day, and hug me the next. Not the airbrushed ones.
We can’t be real friends if we aren’t going to be real.
I want my blog to be a place to come and chat with a friend. I want to have good ideas and victories, but not every day starts {or ends} that way. Rejoice with me when I do something right {I can, I really can}, scrape me up when I am stuck on the floor, and tell me that God loves me anyway.
It isn’t about followers, subscribers, “likes”, or even comments. I love writing here because I love to write, and sharing with others makes me smile.
My online friends are a mix of big blogs, medium blogs, and itty-bitty blogs. Some have no blogs at all. I don’t care if you put your story on Blogger, WordPress, or Facebook-if you are my friend-I’ll follow you wherever you may go.
We need to be supportive, and real. How am I using my voice? To support, to encourage? I know I always have room to improve-that is the beauty of life. As for me, I am clinging to what feels most genuine. The rest I can leave behind.
“Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.” Proverbs 27:9
I am blessed to have some real friends who I may never meet, I cherish your friendship, and pray I bless you just a smidgen of what you bless me.
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