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Our "Selfie" Culture

Having spent several days in St. Augustine, much of that on the beach, I have been surprised how many people spend a large amount of time taking pictures of themselves.  It seems to be an epidemic of people who want to take pictures of their faces and bodies.  They spend half their time looking at their phone camera and posing.  

I assume they are taking these pictures to post on social media for people to admire and post complimentary comments.  After watching 1 in particular yesterday, she was going to have a whole page of "selfies" of her in a florescent green bathing suit and cover-up.  Because the cover-up was very sheer, it didn't cover much!  She ignored her family and just walked and took pictures  of herself.  

What a shame for she was standing on a beautiful beach with  sun  glinting off the waves as they crested and rolled in.  The sun was shining and the wind was blowing a cool breeze which made a perfect beach day to enjoy with a family and friends.  Her little boy and husband had a great time and she missed it all taking pictures of herself.  

Several people were doing the same thing and wasting a great day to enjoy the ocean and friends, the sun and cool breeze.  It seems it is a need to validate who they are and that everyone thinks they are beautiful.  How sad, for out self-worth comes from the inside not the outside facade.  

I have friends who post new pictures of themselves many days a week and most have been altered with photo software to look different than the real person.  Wonder what they are needing from their friends to make them feel secure and happy?  Most are beautiful people, loved and appreciated and I hope they will know that we love and like them. 

This has created a "me" society that can be selfish and everything is about me and mine.  Scripture tells us in 1 Peter 3:

3Do not let your adorning be external — the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear — 4but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God 's sight is very precious.

My mama used to tell me when I  was impressed with my looks, "Pretty is as pretty does."  End of discussion as far as she was concerned.  She often told us that the looks on the outside are temporary but what we are in the heart is permanent.  This good advice is for everyone. She was a wise lady. 

I know it is whistling in the wind, but I sure hope my friends who are obsessing with selfies, will know that we love then not for their looks but who they are.  Love ya'll.

The Georgia Peach writing again

 

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I was recently asked to give my thoughts about being thankful for family and friends at a Thanksgiving service in our church.  Giving my thoughts were a joy for I love my family and friends and I am most thankful for each of them.  

Thankful for Friends and Family

Romans 1:12

“That is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”

This verse highlights the power of mutual encouragement within friendships. Friends who share their faith can inspire and uplift one another.. 

1 Thessalonians 5:11

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

It encourages us to actively seek opportunities to build up and support our friends in their pursuits and journeys.

The most quoted verse about friendship is:

13. John 15:13

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

I am most thankful for my friends and my family and sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between the two.  Many of my friends are closer to me than some of my family both in distance and the love we have for each other.  

All of my family members live several hours from me and it is hard to bridge those miles to communicate and interact with each other.  I am thankful for cell phones, computers, and social media that give me ways to talk to and see family members which helps us stay in touch with each other.  

However, it can be difficult to maintain a close relationship many miles from each other. Most of my friends are nearby so we can see and talk with each other often.  Many of them go to church with me or have worked with me and we have much in common with each other.  These are the bonds that hold us together.

Living away from family members most of my life has given me a great appreciation for friends and especially church friends.  After all, we are a family if we are Christians.  You are my brothers and sisters and we help each other, laugh and cry together and share our lives with each other.  You are my family and I thank you and many others in 4 states for caring for me. 

Through the years you, my friends have laughed with me, cried with me, brought me food, sent me notes of encouragement, comforted me, shared your families and carried me when I was exhausted.  Through very hard times of illness and death, you were always there to hold my hand and give me a hug.  That is what being friends is all about loving and caring for each other and rejoicing in the good times.  

However; Family is one of the most important gifts in the world and is a great blessing from God.

1 Corinthians 1:4-5

 Be grateful to God for your family, friends, and loved ones. He fills us all with His grace, and He ignites us with his wise words through prayer and the Bible.

I don’t have a large family and many of us have gone to heaven but the ones I still have here are precious to me though we are miles apart from each other. We live in Arizona, Texas, Alabama, Florida and Georgia.

I have 2 brothers and one went to heaven way too soon, 2 children, 2 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren and not many extended family members.  I am the oldest and the family matriarch which is a lonely place most of the time.  My family calls me "The Queen" although they don't always obey my rulings.

 We seem only to see each other at weddings and funerals and are always happy to get those hugs and kisses and hear what is happening in our lives.  The days we are apart seem to disappear and we are soon saying, “Do you remember when …… and the conversation continues for hours.  I wish we could see each other more often but this the life we have so we deal with it. 

Now that I have married Lindsay, I have an extended family with more to love and be loved.  This has given me a bigger family that I always wanted.  I envy those of you who have large families close by for you enjoy being with each other and watching your families grow.  You are blessed and enjoy each of them.

Thank goodness for phones and computers for through these we can talk to each other and even see other when we chat.  Technology erases the miles and we can see and hear the love we have for each other.  

 

Friends and family - difficult for me to distinguish between the 2 but I do know that I thank God each day for both.  You are a gift from our Heavenly Father and I thank you for being here for me.  Let’s keep on encouraging each other and being that friend that loves at all times.   Love each of you.  

Happy Thanksgiving to each of you and enjoy each other. God is so good to us so don't forget to thank Him.