Time To Let It Go

 Good morning!

I was looking at some statistics this morning and I don't even know that it feels like a high enough number. The average person spends almost 2.5 hours on social media per day! After more looking, the average person spends up to 5 hours on their phone per day in some capacity and the newer generation is over 6 hours! Thats more than half the day! I know in my house, it feels like my teenage daughter is on it all day in some form or fashion. I find myself picking up my phone all the time without a true need. It is a huge distraction from what is important. I have tried to keep myself off of social media many times but I always find myself going back to it. I want to experience what others do where they find themselves impacting others with their stories and videos. I want Elijah's story to impact others and when the likes or comments lack, I get defeated. Its disgusting. I don't want to be that person. I don't want to find my worth in what others think of me. My worth is in Christ. 

Yesterday, Elijah and I attended a different church. When I moved to Colorado, my first thing was to find the largest Church of Christ in town because I didn't want to be part of a small church again. I loved the larger churches in college and thats what I wanted. I don't know what it is but something was pushing me to try one of the smaller churches. I have felt rejected by the larger church in many ways, wether that was happening or not. I wanted to find "home". I had felt some pressure to sign Elijah up for special needs baseball, even though I felt like it was not the right thing because of people and the fact that it is on Sunday mornings. I did it anyways. Well, something told me that we shouldn't do it. We need to focus on God and go to church. It was harder for me to make that decision than it should have been. I felt like I was robbing Elijah of an experience I know he would love. He also loves church. I chose church for us and I am so happy that I did. I prayed over us going to this new congregation and asked for God to show us if this is where we needed to be. I pulled up into the parking lot and was very nervous. I could tell it was going to be small but I trusted that we were meant to be there. As I was closing up the van to walk in, a woman approached us and welcomed us, as she was walking in. She asked many questions about where we were from etc... She then told me that she would be sure that someone came to help us into the auditorium. I was confused until I made it through the front doors. The only way into the auditorium was going up the stairs. They had one of the stair chairs that you would see in someones home but that wouldn't really work for us. Next thing I know, 4 men came down and lifted Elijah (in his wheelchair) and carried him up the stairs. They assured me that they would come back and make sure we got down safely when services were over. I held my breath the whole time but it was amazing. Reminded me of the story where the friends carried their handicap friend to Jesus and lowered him through the roof. 

Many people welcomed us and made us feel like we were meant to be there. A family with young kids even gave us their seat so that there was space for Elijah's chair. For some reason, as I sat there during the song service, tears filled my eyes. I haven't sang these hymns in so long. The small size of the building made the acoustics amazing and the singing felt like we were home. There was a guest speaker and he spoke on what it meant to be a true disciple of Christ. I was completely focused on the message and felt something I haven't felt in a long time. As we were exiting the building, the preacher stopped us and introduced himself. After a short talk, he made sure I left with his business card and encouraged me to reach out anytime. I can't explain the way I felt when I left that space but I knew our lives were changing. I cannot wait to get to our new house and have a true fresh start all the way around. 

Back to the social media. I was recently told about how someone I know (who spends way too much time on their phone) was considering deleting their social media accounts altogether. I was shocked. This morning I was thinking about this. I have always made excuses as to why I needed to keep my accounts. I have always been able to justify the need to have it and yet I find it making me someone I don't want to be. That is where this blog comes in. I want to share our story and I want to spread the Word, but why does it have to be through platforms that bring me down? It doesn't. My hope is that I can share our story here through pictures and writings. I pray that this will be enough for those following our story and that God will use it for His good!