Do You Have Facebook Envy?

Like most people I have a Facebook page, and one of the pages that I “Like” is Urban Dictionary.  Did you know that there is term listed on the Urban Dictionary website that actually is called “Facebook Envy?” I am sure it comes as no big surprise to you that Facebook Envy loosely translated means that we harbor, to some degree, envy towards those very people we call “Friends.”  That envy could stem from seeing fabulous pictures of beautiful spouses taken on exotic vacations, perhaps after having been run through Photoshop a time or two.  Maybe a friend is gloating about an overachieving child, the fantastic promotion at work or newly minted college degree that just seemed to materialize out of thin air. 

Well to start off with, besides being a sign language interpreter I am also a photographer, specializing in portraits and weddings, and I will tell you straight up that it’s easy for everyone to look happy in a family photo.  Although there are missed shots and closed eyes those photos are never shown to the family and most certainly never posted to Facebook.  Think about it, would you post a bad picture of yourself or your family?  I know I would not and neither would most of your friends.  Therein lies the very seed for Facebook  Envy, we all put our best face forward for all to see and comment on. What you are seeing is not their normal everyday lives, although some do post blow-by-blow descriptions of their lives which can be as disturbing as they are annoying, what you are seeing is what they want you to see.  In the vain attempt to get someone to comment about how fabulous they look or how marvelous their vacation must have been they will post…repeatedly, and if your feelings towards that person are genuine by all means post the comment.

Beware of Facebook Envy though…that jealousy that creeps in when you are trolling through the photos of someone’s trip to Greece or their marvelous cruise. 

Proverbs 14:30 states “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” Yes…envy makes the bones rot!  Jealousy should be given no room in our hearts or minds, what God has planned for you is not the same as what He has planned for your friends and Jeremiah 29:11 ESV states “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” 

HOPE!!  God give us hope.  His plans for your life and my life may not be even remotely similar, what you already know I may still need to learn…our paths are infinitely different but eventually we will meet, probably not in an Italian villa but most assuredly in Heaven!

Many years ago while liFacebook Lifeving on a small base on the island of Oahu, far from Honolulu and Pearl Harbor and well off the beaten path, a good friend of mine recounted a conversation she had recently had with a good friend of hers on the mainland.  Apparently my friend had been complaining about life in general or perhaps something specific and her wise friend asked her one very simple question: “If you could hang out all of your friend’s dirty laundry on a laundry line, who’s would you choose?”  Well her answer was simple, her own of course. 

So who’s dirty laundry or fabulous vacation pictures would you want on your facebook page?  Are you living a life that has been re-touched by Photoshop or an authentic life filled with hope and facebook envy that has been kept at bay?  I encourage you to think about the journey you are on, focusing what God has planned for you and turning away from the bone-rotting jealousy and choosing hope!

By Paula Thompson

Paula Thompson-Bio Paula was born in suburban Los Angeles and when, at the age of 16, her parents divorced she moved with her mother to the Denver, CO area. Having grown up with sunny days filled with roller skating, swimming, bicycling and going to the beach with friends she had known since birth, Colorado was a stark contrast but the change of seasons never failed to delight her and no matter where she lived Colorado remained in her heart as home. At the age of 23 she married a childhood friend from her California days, although they had not stayed in contact throughout the years, they met again this time as adults through a mutual friend in Colorado. Her husband was an officer in the Navy and even when he went into the reserves they moved considerably over the years, two children a dog or two and typically a boat in tow. Having been a young wife and having grown up fairly sheltered, Paula struggled while trying to maneuver the ‘food chain’ of military structure and more than once ended up in tears on the couch and wondering what exactly she had gotten herself into. Nearing the end of the first of what was supposed to be two tours on the island of Oahu, HI and after a particularly difficult few months she received news of her father’s illness and life as she knew it was about to change drastically. It was early 1995 and she began a fervent search to try to make sense of all the disorder in her life as she wonder why God would allow all of this “stuff” to come crashing down on her and why oh why did everyone expect her to take care of it. Somewhere in the midst of moving to San Diego and dealing with her father’s subsequent death, her two young children, and realizing that she had no choice but to step up to the proverbial plate she began to pray a specific prayer: “God I don’t like who I am, change me. Make be into a woman that is positive and encouraging to others…a woman others trust and want to talk to.” Knowing that it would not happen over night she was surprised by how fast she did start to change. People started to talk to her, really talk to her and listen. In the following years she found herself faced with more military deployments and therefore distraught wives as well as her own health issues and family and marital issues. Yet she continued to pray the same prayer, everyday, knowing that God would need to shape her in order to change her. Through daily struggles as well as major health issues she has learned to laugh and love and enjoy life so much more! Through trusting God and claiming Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God…” as her daily strength she has overcome what her doctors told her was impossible and finds herself daily trying to live up to the expectations that came with the answering of her prayer. Paula currently lives and works in Colorado, as both a sign language interpreter and a photographer. Her "God Sized Dream" is to see her 'Tribute Shoots' take off and expand as a way to honor those women who have overcome great obstacles in their lives, to show their inner beauty and strength in an outward and tangible way.

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