During Victoria Day weekend my husband accused me of being addicted to Social Media. I said I had a mild addiction but I could take a break whenever I wanted. He challenged me to get off of it for a month. I agreed. I have given it up in the past for lent and other things, so I knew I could do it. I figured this fast would be like every other one. But it hasn't been.
Two weeks into my fast I started to notice changes. Hubby and I had spent more time together. At home, my skill set includes taking care of our home, by cooking and cleaning. But I'm not so good at the emotional side and tend to neglect his emotional needs. Because after doing everything else during the day I would want downtime on my phone. Which of course isn't really downtime. It's simply just numbing out. But once I took away my phone, all of a sudden I had time.
After supper, hubby would ask if I wanted to watch a movie, I used to say no, but now I was saying yes. Now, part of why I would say no is because I didn't have the time. The kitchen would need cleaning or Blessing would need walking. But near the time I started my fast, I also changed up my housework routine and meal prep. Freeing up my evenings for family time. The nights he would ask about a movie I was thinking about reading a book but would decide that the book could wait. Over the last few weeks, I have watched this bless our marriage.
I also noticed that I had become a better caregiver. Growing up I only witnessed my dad get sick once. So I thought men never got sick. Then I got married and learned that they do. And despite watching my mom nurse us all back to health I never gained the skill, until now.
One day during my fast he worked out and then the next day was very sore and couldn't move. For once, after work, I did a good job of playing nurse without being argued into it. Looking back, he didn't need nearly as much care as he received, but that's fine. My fast was softening me up and making me a better wife and for that I am grateful.
I also noticed that my screen time overall had greatly reduced. I had been thinking of reducing it to 2 hours a day before the fast and was slowly working on it. The fast has helped to seal the deal. My screen time is now roughly two hours grand total. Including texting and all other regular phone use.
The last thing I noticed was that I now had time for my other hobbies that I had been neglecting. I finished a book that I had been struggling to read. I made a new skirt. I bought some old sheets at Value Village and have been wanting to sew. Now, part of why I hadn't started on my new sewing projects was because I needed a paycheck to get some of the other supplies, but also because I was too distracted by my phone. Heck, I was even sewing during the week, which never happens. But over the course of three days, I made a new skirt. I could have made it quicker, but I was doing some experimenting with the style which added to the time. It was good though. I learned some valuable lessons along the way.
There is a passage in the Bible that talks about doing what you don't want to do and not doing what you want to do. I was feeling this way about Social Media and my hobbies. Social media was my comfort zone and despite my love for sewing and reading, they are out of my comfort zone, and therefore I struggle to do them. Until now. Romans 7:15 "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do."
At the beginning of this fast, I wasn't expecting it to be any different than my fasts in the past. I simply wanted to prove my point to hubby that I could give it up if and when I chose. Which is technically true. I can give it up, but I do have a bit of an addiction to it. We also agree to disagree about Social Media and its uses. After he gave it up a few years ago he decided that it was the worst thing in the world and won't touch it. I respect that decision. Where I believe it is a tool to be used properly and in moderation. I also think it's important to ask yourself why you are posting the content that you are posting. Are you doing it for likes and comments or to inspire others in some way shape or form?
I have a few more weeks to go until I get to the end of the fast. And I'm interested to see what else God changes in me in the process. I have a game plan for moderating my usage after my fast is over. In the past, that game plan has only worked temporarily, but this time I think it will be different because God has changed me and blessed me and I don't want to undo that growth that I have seen.
If you are addicted to Social Media or any other thing friend, I challenge you to give it up for 30 days and see what God does. It may surprise you.
I pray this blesses and encourages you today friend.
God Bless
~Hannah
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