Why, Hello!

MomBlogs.

Oh how they can be used to inspire, encourage and at times, discourage (lets be real - who really has time to complete all those Pinterest crafts you've pinned?!) But, they have an incredible ability and platform to help us become better women! Wives. Mothers. Grandmothers. Friends. Isn't that the point? To be the best Wife, Mom, Granny and friend that we can be for the benefit of others? (Sorry to all you gents. I promise! This is not a gender exclusive blog - I'll try harder to include you! Please continue!)

There are a few reasons why I've hesitated in creating a blog despite the encouragement from other women I admire. They somehow think I might have something important or significant to offer the world of bloggers. Lets face it. I'm a microscopic fish in a big, big ocean of success and faithful readers/followers and people who look to bloggers for some level of entertainment and self-help. I'm not a great writer. I'm not even very decent at grammar. (Look away all you comma police!)

Alright.... back on topic

Hesitation. I have hesitated in creating a blog because of the big nasty burden rearing its ugly face known as comparison. Comparison has ruined me. Time and time again (foolish much?) and over and over because I let it. If comparison were a zit. I'd pop it. Then it would likely come back like the persistant dirty pore it is. (Eww, Tara!)

See, when people share their lives online - Facebook, for example - they generally only share the glory. The highlights reel. (HELLOOOO Tara, of cooourse!!!) After all, who wants to hear about life's daily "spilled milk" on an uplifting sight as Facebook?! (Sarcasm)

Tangent.

Now - that isn't to say I am against Facebook. I'm not. I enjoy being able to see what is going on in the lives of people I would probably never have a phone conversation with for fear I would be exposed for who I really am. For fear they would see my life isn't one of all smiles and gladness all the time. (That reads as ridiculous as it is, Tara.)

Exposed.

You've read that right. I'm one of those people who is eternally optimistic and, for the most part, shares only the good on social media sites such as Facebook.

See, what happens when we disguise our every day life (that "spilled milk") with pictures of joyful smiles, uplifting stories and a whole world of "baby firsts" (guilty!) - we lose true community in favor of comparison. It never fails. You compare yourself to me. I compare myself to you. From everything to the way I look and how long it took me to get into pre-pregnancy jeans to the discipline methods I use to train my child to steer clear from electrical sockets. Everything from the clothes I dress my baby in to the 15 pounds I've put on since getting married. (Can't you just diet, already! Sheesh!) No. No, I can't. I like food. I like my mama curves. Get over it!

Tangent. (You'll read a lot of those. No apologies.)

Comparison works two ways.

Can we could make a little deal? If you choose to subject yourself to my many tangents, itty bits of advice and snippets of wisdom; I will do my darndest (phonetic spelling - Granny's way) to not compare myself to you, your children, your mothering, your husband, your food, your clean bath tile, your messy living room, your extrovert personality, that hidden anger that is bound to be exposed or that wine stain on your couch that we both know isn't really grape juice. (So we're clear: Jesus-water for the win!)

Deal?

In return, here is my promise for this blog.

I promise to let this blog remain a safe haven. A place where we can mutually have our "moments" together. We all have them. Why not drop the veil and be who we really are! I would be honored to share with you my days of joy and happiness but also the more difficult days of sickness and sadness, frustration and loneliness.

And most importantly, my reader/s (if there's more than one of you out there), let us tire ourselves of comparison. Let us not grow weary in cheering each other on in life, as wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, husbands (this is for you, bro), and as friends. Let us set aside the facades - just for the 5 minutes it takes you to read this - and lets be real. Encouraging, yes. Real? Oh yes. Because, honestly - no amount of comparison will make you a better person. I promise. And more importantly, living life without a real reality is foolish. We need Grace. (It's capitalized on purpose - you can put your pen down, Ms Editor).

As a Christian, when I pretend my life is nothing but a butter cloud of sugar canes and cotton candy with a baby who "always smiles", I am discrediting the grace that has been so generously poured out over me and my family. I am stealing the glory from the One who created glory. ...the One who created me. See, when I pretend my life is perfect, I discredit the saving grace of the One who saved me and I negatively impact the desperate need for others in my life to see that grace in action so they can come to know my Grace. Now - that's a lot of "Grace's" in one paragraph so let me clarify.

When I pretend my need for a Savior is non-existant based upon my social media's highlight reel (for the sake of keeping up my appearance as a great person, mother, wife, ect), I am robbing others my witness. I am potentially robbing them the opportunity to see our great God in action.

Alright. I'm almost done. Hang in there!

This isn't to say that we need to air out all our dirty laundry (as Granny would say) or be a people who complain. I'm not saying that. But I am saying that if we are in genuine need of support, love and even a shoulder to cry on - we shouldn't be shamed from asking for our needs to be met by our community because we have an image of perfection to uphold. Let us be optimistic, yes. Let us be encouraging and funny and even entertaining!!! But let us find freedom to humble ourselves in times of need and share life.

If you've read this far - thank you. You're a trooper.


Bless you -

MamaG