There have been a lot of blog posts circulating about the effects of looking at Facebook and Instagram daily.

And goodness and Ben and Jerry’s both know I could write a whole post itself on how frustrating it was being on Facebook after college graduation, inundated with pictures of fellow graduates’ new desks while I had yet to land one. You know, a job. Not a desk.

And I love Instagram.

I love showing pictures of my fur baby and family and Bible verses and flowers from Michael and cookie dough freshly plopped on the pan, I love letting my friends and family know when I’ve achieved something, when I’m thinking of them, when I see a funny picture of a cat sitting on a couch like a human with a soda can and a slice of pizza.

It warms my heart to capture and share these things.

But these warm and beautiful and light-bearing things don’t happen alone.

No, these things – the Bible verses, the sunset on the beach, the selfie with Michael – they happen amid the messiness of every day life.

And I love that. God graces in ordinary life.

What I’m saying is, my social media accounts are real. Very real. But they’re not the whole picture.

You know, I read somewhere that friendship forms when someone says simply, “me too.”

I agree.

So here is my is my “me too” for you:

You’ll see my wedding pictures. I like to post them, because I love Michael with my whole entire heart and truly our wedding was one of the best days of my life so far. What you won’t see is the months of pre-marital counseling, prayer, and normal, hard work we went through go through to get there.

You’ll see a Bible verse about God’s peace. The verse wasn’t posted because I know all about God’s peace and have mastered that bit of truth. No, it was posted because I was feeling anxious and needed God’s peace.

You’ll see two beach chairs sitting perfectly in the sunlight. It was an awesome moment captured. What you won’t see is how I miss my Papaw being there. A lot. Every time I see those chairs. Because probably like you, I know how much it hurts to miss a grandpa, too.

You’ll see Tucker being all cute and fuzzy, like a giant peppered cotton ball. What you won’t see is how three seconds later he gives me a “love bite” and I yelp and fall off the couch and knock my drink over. But let’s face it. He’s still cute and fuzzy.

You’ll see a selfie with me and Michael. What you won’t see is the argument we just talked through for about 45 minutes before the selfie.

You’ll see a picture of me on Easter. What you won’t see is the really bad hair day I woke up to the day before. Know why you won’t see it? I didn’t take a picture on my bad hair day.

You’ll see a picture of freshly baked pumpkin bread. What you won’t see is how on that same day, I was stressed about the details of my changing career.

Friends, I love Instagram because it’s a way to document God’s graces in the ordinary moments of ordinary people.

Instagram shows real things (at least, on my account) – but it doesn’t show everything.

Be encouraged!

Social media has changed our culture.

But, I pray all the time to see social media as a way to enjoy and celebrate sweet and real graces amid each person’s sweet and real messiness.

Goodness, we’re all human, folks!

And Praise God! He loves us just the same.

So next time you see me post a picture, know it’s grace. And there’s a real, maybe even messy story behind it, and you know something else? That messiness is grace, too. In Jesus, all is grace.

Blessings and sweet realness to you,

Robyn