Hope in a Hopeless World

Hello again, friends. Winter is finally giving way to summer (yes, in Wisconsin apparently we only have 2 seasons now) and the birds are chirping, my spring bulbs are blooming, and it's going to be almost 90 degrees today! It's wild out there.

It's been a while since I've posted, but something spurred me to jump on the interwebs today and jot a few thoughts about life. It's been 9 months since I left social media...every once in a while I'll hop on the Farmer's Instagram to see what a few people are up to, and after a couple minutes I find myself bored and I move on to something productive. But today, I was quickly reminded how much better off I am for not having any social media. Because, well, let's be honest: the economy is in the tank, I could have a beach house in Florida and a brand new car for all the money we've lost in the stock market (actually), money is tight, gas costs a fortune, etc. etc. So why on top of all of that, should we want the toxic culture of social media sucking more hope and joy out of our lives? Maybe that sounds extreme, but let me tell you about the moment I realized that I truly want nothing more to do with social media, probably ever again.

It all started when I figured my kids are going to be needing a few new summer items. I went through Jack's shorts the other day and they're mostly all a size too small. And inevitably every summer they need new shoes, or sandals, or a swim suit. So I got to thinking, I'll just post some of their out-grown, gently used things on Facebook Marketplace under the Farmer's account and make a few extra dollars to help pay for the new things. So, I pulled out 5 pairs of Elle's sandals - all name brand (think Sketchers, Merrill, etc) and gathered up Jack's shorts that don't fit anymore (again nice stuff - Nike, Starter, etc) I posted 6 pairs of boys shorts for $15 and 5 pairs of sandals + shoes for $20. Fast forward a couple hours, I went back to see if there had been any comments in the Buy Sell Trade groups and sure enough - comments and reactions!

To my utter disgust, the reactions were "laughing" at my post, and the comments were things like "those are in rough shape, just throw them out", "throw them in the trash, lol". I mean, how miserable do you have to be to stop at a post and take the time to write rude/mean things about someone's children's used clothing!? Honestly, I feel bad for these people. I contemplated commenting back about how ridiculous they were for wasting time in their day to criticize strangers on the internet, but I figured my comments would be in vain. I cannot imagine living my life like that. Getting pleasure out of making fun of used kid's shoes? Pathetic.

But maybe my momentary disgust was all worth it, if only to remind me that I made (with a strong recommendation from the Farmer) an absolutely incredible decision to delete social media back in September 2021. If I could somehow convince everyone to do it, I would! I mentioned in my first post on this blog that it did give me a lot of anxiety and I was quite upset about giving up social media for good. But, hindsight is always 20/20 and it is quite literally one of the best decisions I have made in a very long time.

Finally, I just wanted to remind us all that our hope absolutely is not in people (because a lot of them are terribly miserable!), it is certainly not in government or government leaders (for pretty obvious reasons), and it's not in things (because they get old, and rot and rust, and are clearly not even worth a couple dollars to someone else). I don't know where you find your hope, but I'll tell you where mine is, and thankfully has been for a very long time. My hope is in Jesus and only Jesus. He said himself, in Matthew 6:19, "Do not store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal." {side note: man do we have some stories about thieves and stealing!!!} -- Back to Jesus, "Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." And Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:9, "What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." So, I will be doing my best to do what Paul did - which was do his best to follow Jesus - and I know, because the Bible promises, that the God of peace will be with me. If that doesn't give you hope, friend, then I'm certain nothing will!

This world is not our home - THANK GOD! - but we have an amazing place waiting for us in heaven. Take heart, Jesus promised us there would be trouble in this world, but HE has overcome the world. And THAT, that right there is all the hope I need.

Thanks for letting me vent, I'm glad I didn't comment on that post out of spite, that would not have been a good testimony. And I'm even more thankful for this small, but impactful, reminder that I am absolutely better off without social media.

Be well friends! Until next time,

The Farmer's Wife

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33 ESV