Communication

My younger sister recently got married, and I was her Maitron of Honor.  During the year of her engagement and wedding planning, we had a lot of disagreements.  Mostly it was over her expectations of me, and me not living up to them.  However, there was one key factor to those expectations:  communication.  You can't have reasonable expectations of people without communicating to them exactly what you want.  And HOW you communicate is big as well.  My dad used to always say, "it's not what you say, but how you say it."

How do we communicate today?  It seems Facebook and texting has taken over.  Does anyone just stop by to say Hi anymore?  I've learned the whole "how you say things" doesn't really "work" with texting. People interpret the written word differently- sometimes varying based on the person's mood, or feelings twards someone.  I know I have been guilty of that.  Something as simple as a "k" texted back, can lead to a slew of "Is she mad at me?, did I interrupt?, is it really OK?"  Wow, so a simple text isn't so simple after all!  It would've been easier to just call!

So as a side note:  this makes me think of all the ways the Bible is interpreted.  There are so many translations, it's hard to know which to choose!  People read different translations and interpret God's Word differently, but isn't it amazing that when we truly seek God, we all come to the same conclusions?

Anyways, I have spent the last 3 years as a member of Facebook, beliving it would be an awesome way to stay in touch with friends, relatives, and old classmates.  I log on and check statuses, comment on pictures, post my own pictures from my pregnancy and of my kids.  And for what?  It's almost a high waiting for people to comment on something I posted! 

After being off of Facebook for only 2 weeks, I've realised something.  I need to communicate better. I need to get off the computer and CALL someone on their birthday.  Send an "old fashioned" card, or make a point to visit that person.  If you truly care about someone, call, visit, SHOW them you are a friend or family.  Don't just leave it up to social networking.  You may have 567 "friends" on Facebook, but who are your REAL friends?

So friends, I'm not on Facebook anymore.  So if you want to know about my life, you gotta call or visit me! =)