"Keeping it Real" on Facebook

Based on a couple of recent studies, doctors are now warning people of a phenomenon known as "Facebook Depression."  Basically, the belief is that when people get on Facebook and see nothing but their friends' smiling faces in pictures, and status updates about how wonderful their life is (family, job, vacation, etc.), that it makes the individual feel like a failure, and causes them to fall into depression.

Here is my response to that...

First of all, can we admit that many of us spend WAY too much time on Facebook?  Almost anything in moderation is fine.  But what does it say when we allow a stupid website to dictate our emotions?

Secondly, and on a more personal level, I just want everyone out there to know that regardless of what I put on Facebook, my life is far from perfect.  And if I have given anyone the opposite impression, I apologize.

Now having said that, I'm not going to sit here and pretend I've had a hard life.  I haven't.  I am a very blessed man.  I have good parents, a loving wife, healthy children, and I love my job.  God has been far better to me than I deserve.  And I do like to talk about my blessings on Facebook.  I love the Lord and I'm proud of my family and my church, and so it's just what comes naturally.

But in the interest of "keeping it real," if it makes you feel any better, I go through seasons when I'm pretty melancholy.  (Mildly depressed?)  Rachel and I spat sometimes.  Occasionally, I'm too harsh with my kids.  Money is tight for us almost every month.  (The church takes very good care of me.  But we do have four kids.)  Our house stays messy.  (Rachel is an amazing wife and mother, but she is also a full-time school teacher.  She can only do so much.  Have you ever tried to clean up after 3 and 2 year-old boys?)  I struggle with my weight.  I could go on.  The point is, I want you to know, our life is far from perfect.

I'm sure I will continue to brag on my God and my family on Facebook, but I'm going to pledge right now that  I will not post anything with the intention of making my life look better, or more important, that what it really is.  That doesn't mean I'm going to start posting all the negative stuff that happens, or tell you about my personal issues.  (Facebook is NOT the forum for that, people.)  But I will do my best to "keep it real."  Will you?