Okay, we all know Facebook, and Facebook friends. I’ve so enjoyed finding old classmates and renewing friendships. Seeing photos of their kids and grandkids. Sending birthday greetings to teachers I haven’t seen for years. Keeping in touch with family that maybe I don’t call like I should…nephews, nieces, in-laws and out-laws!
But today, as I pulled up FB, something hit me. Have you noticed on the right hand side of the page the tab…People You May Know? Today, I hit the tab. Never know who I may find. What came to me was this…
There were pages and pages of people I knew. People I went to school with, people I grew up with, people I went to church with, people I saw in the grocery store or post office most every day, people I sat at ballgames with, kids that had been in my home over and over who were all grown up, customers from where I worked…the list went on and on.
This isn’t about numbers…how many Facebook friends can I get? This is about actions and me. Why were these people not my Facebook friends? How many chances did I miss to really make a friend? How many chances did I miss to really “care” about another? How many opportunities did I miss to go beyond superficial and really pay attention to someone? How many times did I have a chance to “be God’s hands”, and I let it pass me by?
It kind of made me sad, and a little disappointed in myself.
Matthew 22:36-40
New International Version (NIV)
36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
I don’t really care what the numbers say on Facebook, what I care about is “loving my neighbor as myself”.
Today, I’m looking at that differently. I will pay attention to those “I know”…I will seek to “love them” and “show Christ’s love”.
Blessings to you.
49andcounting 
Excellent post now you can reconnect with them and as I say God has a reason for everything we might know the reason but it was a reason for you to see all those people you know…GOD bless and connect with them my friend…Someone in that group of people is waiting a blessing and your the one who can show them…AMEN
Be careful ‘friending’ people who may not know you well enough to call their facebook friend…if they say they don’t know you then facebook will send you a nasty email telling you that you are spamming and if it happens again they will take action against you, including shutting down your facebook account.
That happened to me. The person I friended might have not felt as close as I did, or maybe they only friend family members, or maybe they clicked that response by accident. Either way, now I don’t friend anyone unless they friend me first so I don’t get in trouble with facebook.
Anna
Thank you for the advice. Really, I’m not about more “Facebook friends”. Just about treating those I see each day with Christ’s love.
‘ How many times did I have a chance to “be God’s hands”, and I let it pass me by?’
Aint it the truth :). Each Christian should ask himself/herself that same question.
Good thoughts, 49andcounting.
Carolyn
Hugs to you Michaela!! You are an inspiration to me.