Have you ever tried to talk while holding your tongue?
How about this…
Have you ever tried to type while pressing your fingers together as demonstrated in the photo?
Both of these scenarios make the action you’re wanting to achieve next to impossible.
These opening thoughts are due to the recent trend I’ve noticed on social media where holding one’s tongue or fingers should have been practiced.
I’m pretty sure the inventors of Facebook, Twitter, etc. invented these sites with the purpose of allowing people to connect with one another in a friendly atmosphere. And I’m also pretty sure it was never intended to be the toxic playground for hate that it’s morphed into.
When I set out to create my profiles a few years ago, I promised myself and God that I would declare mine a Negative-free Zone. To use the opportunities of these sites as an uplifting platform. I don’t go on FB to blow off steam. It’s not the right place. Period.
When we are upset about circumstances, we should go to our confidants who God has blessed in our circle, and not to a bunch of strangers on social media where it’s most likely to be misconstrued and someone will get bent out of shape about it.
Admittedly, there have been times where I’ve posted something I viewed as harmless, usually a joke or silly meme, only to have people blow up about it. Did I lash out at them and tell them to chill? No. That’s negative too, so I simply hit the delete button on the entire post and moved on. Life is too short to bicker over nonsense.
We all have opinions, views, and morals that will not line up with most people. That’s okay. But we need to understand that ranting in a post is not going to sway people to your side of the matter. It’s only going to spur anger and spew hate. And all that leads to is tearing one another down. Since when did it become acceptable to hurt others, belittling them, and calling them names? I’m talking grown folks here! Oh my…
The Bible has a verse for everything. Open it and you’ll easily discover this blessed wonder. I’m going to share a few on what God expects us to do with our voice on social media and anywhere else in this world. Romans 14:19 is a great one. “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.” We cannot accomplish this by dogging someone’s posts or a leading news story that pops up on our feed.
There are enough pot-stirrers and negative nellies in the world. How about choose not to be one of them. Choose to make your social media pages a Negative-Free Zone. Post uplifting posts. Comment with positives instead of teardowns.
Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”
Seriously, y’all, it’s time to stop this mess. I bet most of your mommas told you if you don’t have anything nice to say then it’s best to say nothing at all.
If you’re struggling with keeping the angry opinions at bay, then refer to the picture above and practice holding your fingers together. Yes, there will be times where something rubs you the wrong way, but that doesn’t mean you need to respond in the wrong way as well. Take a few calming breaths, press your fingers together and step away from the keyboard.
Proverbs 15:18 says, “A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms the quarrel.”
Let’s go against the trend of negativity and choose to be more positive and encouraging. It’s so much more fun!