Facebook The Great Avoidance Tool

Happy Holidays Patch readers. I hope everyone is blessed with family and love this Christmas season.

Things have been really hectic here in my house. There are some deeply personal and tumultuous issues happening in our lives right now, and we are doing our best to get thru them as a family, one day at a time. Going to my Facebook page to vent has allowed me to get some of the feelings I have out, and I have a great support network, those who offer kind words, advice and prayers. There are those who see a status, and call me right away, to listen or just let me know they are there if I need to talk. I am blessed for having such wonderful people in my life. Then there are those who think that Facebook is the only way to communicate. I have one friend, for example, that I have known since I was 13. We grew up together, went through first loves, broken hearts, love and loss together and were at each others sides like Velcro. She is almost always the first person to ask, "Are you ok?"...on my page. But she has not picked up the phone to call me in 2 years. Oh, I get Christmas cards, Happy Birthday emails, and updates on her life. But no person to person contact. Ever. Sure, we are all busy with our lives, jobs, families, etc., but is that enough to continue to cultivate friendships?

Now, I know that people grow up and grow apart, and I am perfectly fine with that. I have grown from high school, and have made new and wonderful friends. But when I take the time to read emails about the good, bad, and ugly in her life, and think that shooting emails back and forth can be done while life is going on around us, wouldn't it be easier (and nicer) to hear the voice of an old and dear friend? I mean really, to find out that she found the child she gave up for adoption via email, well, I would have much rather heard the excitement in her voice. I would have rather let her hear mine. 

Maybe I am old fashioned. Maybe I am asking too much in a world where everything is shared via some sort of electronic device, but if you have some news, good, bad, ugly, call me. Even though I have a tremendous amount of things going on in my life, I can make time to have a conversation with you. In a world where emoticons have replaced touch, are we losing our sense of real friendship and love? Is this: <3 enough love? Is this: {} a great replacement for a hug? Is this: :) better than a genuine smile? Not in my world. 

In this season, let's think about this. Would Jesus have Facebooked his healing hands on your status? Or would He have held you, hugged you, touched you, smiled at you, or cried with you. I think we all know the answer. So, when you are opening your gifts or watching your loved ones open theirs, don't Tweet or Facebook it. Enjoy the moment, cherish it, hug your family. Touch has been a healing thing since the beginning of time. Facebook has not.