DISTRACTION: This Mama's Biggest Enemy

Am I the only one who is failing at being a homemaker/wife/mother/friend/daughter/sister due to distraction?!?! Namely internet distraction. Anyone else? Or is it just me?

I feel like it comes at me from Every. Single. Angle. 

Now please understand, I try very hard to fight against it, but *it* (distraction) always seems to win. It's almost like a medical condition or something. 

I get determined. 
I won't be distracted. 
I'll stay on track. 

Then, out of nowhere, like the dog in the Disney movie UP, my heads turns & I'm all like: "SQUIRREL!". Oh, MAN! I'm sucked in to something completely unimportant again.

Even as I am typing this (and I only have a few paragraphs so far), I find myself switching back and forth from other tabs, checking different feeds...WHY?!? I don't really want to, but *it* calls to me. I hate it!

I totally feel Paul when he says:

"I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate." -Romans 7:15

Now I know we are not supposed to condemn ourselves, but let me tell you that what I am feeling here is not condemnation, but real unquestionable conviction. 

"So, then, be careful how you live. 

Do not be unwise but wise, making the best use of your time because the times are evil." - Ephesians 5:15-16

I feel as though I am letting the enemy completely distract me from the most important things in my life. Things that I know God has called me to. Things that I truly want to be top priority, but they just get pushed down the list by stupid, pointless nonsense. 

The funny thing is that often times *it* presents itself as innocent or even good, like a wolf in sheep's clothing. Maybe it's searching a recipe on Pinterest (cooking is good right? I need to provide yummy meals for my family, right?) Or reading adoption blogs. Or reading boring home school blogs. Or my personal downfall, posting photos of my kids (it's like a virtual scrapbook, I need to preserve the memories, right?).

Let's discuss the team leader of internet distraction: Social Media. Social media has made me LESS social. In the beginning, I refused to have a FB account. You see, I don't like jumping on trendy bandwagons. But in late 2010, I caved. Since then I now have lots more interaction with *friends*, even *friends* that Like me! But seeing a feed of what people are doing and Liking doesn't really add up to social interaction.

Now I am not saying social media is bad for everyone or even that it is bad for me, I just realize that I have lost deeper connections because of it. Before FaceGram I used to daily text my mother and grandmother photos of my kids, I would have long phone conversations or even have a friend over to actually hang-out, I even would send cards to people just for funzies, like real mail! I long for deeper more meaningful interactions with my extended family and close friends. Social media is a cheap imposter pretending to fill the need of friendship that we have all been given by God.

"And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near."  -Hebrews 10:25

I know for some social media has been great and they really benefit from it, but for me...well it's a distraction. A distraction from what is really important in my life. Now I am not saying that I am deleting my FB and taking a vow of social media abstinence. That is so not realistic, we are talking about a girl who deletes her Instagram app at least twice a week in order to rid herself of the distraction. Do the math, I delete it twice....I'm re-downloading it people, GAH! I'm like a junkie.

I love this quote I came across on distraction:

• Don’t let the noise of the world keep you from hearing the voice of the Lord.  (unknown)

I sometime seriously wish an EMP would knock out the grid, causing us to lay down our electronics and spend quality time with each other.

Please understand, I love my life and I do feel as though I am embracing this time and enjoying my children. I major in fun. We do a lot in the spending time with each other category. I am just convicted by how easily my phone, this little piece of metal/rubber/plastic whatever its made of can so easily distract me from this beautiful life I've been given. It dings and beeps at me, pulling me away from reality to tempt me with time-wasting, covetousness, dis-contentment, escapism, pure distraction. Maybe I'm focusing on the wrong problem, maybe I just lack self-control....that's a whole other post.

My challenge to myself (& you, if you find yourself in my same situation) is to give technology it's proper place. Turn off the dings, beeps and notifications and just live. Live life. A life free of emails that tell you that you need this or that product, free of FB posts that tell you which candidate stinks and why, free of artsy/hipster photos of people who you don't even really know, free of crafts or recipes that make you feel like a not-so-great mom/wife, a life free of technology distraction.

Sure I'll log on to FB and see what's happening in the political/recipe/mommying world, sure I'll post a photo (or 2 or 3) on Instagram, but when I'm done, I'll leave it. I want to focus on this path God has me on and focus on loving the people that God has put on this path.

This verse in 1 Corinthians has been speaking volumes to me lately:

"I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible." -1 Corinthians 7:35

This is my prayer. Lord, help me!

❤rebecca