It's crowded out there. And if you're like me, when it's crowded out there - it gets crowded in here too. In my heart, in my mind. I get sucked into the crowd and the busy and the doing and forget what the purpose is. I start functioning and living from a place of performance instead of a place of purpose.

I get distracted.

The truth is, the world doesn't stop moving for us mamas. It doesn't wait until our kids are sleeping through the night, or finally not sick, or potty-trained or not out-of-their-minds (which I've heard actually isn't curable). No, minus a few weeks post-birth when everyone brings you meals and wants to hold your baby (those were the best days of my life), the world expects you to keep operating at it's speed - you know, warp-speed - while still maintaining your role as wife, homemaker and/or working part or full-time. And well I'm sorry, mamas of the social media millennium, when you have communication at your fingertips there is just not a lot of grace for you, even on the friend-level. You must reply to every text, catch up on every Instagram photo, Snapchat video and attend all of your friend's virtual parties on Facebook (because they are making life easier for you by letting you be in your PJ's) while still managing to give your children some sort of a childhood. The kind where they don't end up sitting in front of a screen all day, you know, like you.

 Sigh.

I'm not saying that all distracted moms are sitting on their phones all day. Nah, I know that's not possible with children. But it's still there. And most likely, attached to your hip for any opportune moment to have a second to yourself. To "free your mind." When in actuality, it's really just distracting it more.

I know, because I am so much more guilty than I want to admit.

I don't know why I think that reading one more political post is going to help give me the patience I need, when in the very next moment my child is pouring cereal all over the floor. Or why following that super-model mom rocking her bikini body on Instagram is going to give me motivation, while I stare in the mirror feeling guilty that I skipped out on the gym again that morning. 

And this is just the kind of distracting stuff that happens "behind-the-scenes." There are tons of more opportunities for distraction, you know, when I actually get out of the house. 

I always set out with good intentions, and then end up living and functioning out of performance instead of purpose. Trying to live to "claim a spot" in this rat-race world, instead of resting in the one role that I never have to earn or try to be the best at. The one that Jesus came to die for.

My identity as a child of God. 

I have been redeemed from living a life of selfish ambition or vain conceit (Philippians 2:3-4). Worldly accolades mean nothing when compared with the surpassing value of knowing Jesus Christ as Savior (Philippians 3:7-8). I'm reminded that I can plan all I want to, but my ways are not His ways (Isaiah 55:8) and boasting in anything, apart from Christ, is arrogant and evil (James 4:15-16). 

These are the truths I have to remind myself daily. Before I am a mom, before I am a wife... I am His. And if I miss that, I will naturally keep striving to "perform" in the other two. 

Jesus offered a place for the weary and "burned-out" (burdened) in this world... with Him. 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

— Matthew 11:28

As I was tucking my little boy to bed tonight, he asked me (like he does every night) to lay down with him for two minutes. I looked at him and said, "Okay, baby," and then laid down beside him, stroking his soft, fine hair and asked, "You know why I do this, right?" He smiled gently and said, "Yeah... because you reeeally love me." :)

My precious boy knows what Jesus wants us to know... that because I love him so much, he can find rest in my embrace. And in that moment, with all distractions aside, I knew I was doing something right.

It seems everywhere we look lately, there is another tragedy trending on Twitter, or worse, streaming live over Facebook video.

This troubles me.

Not because I want to remain ignorant or unaware of the troubles and injustices our world is facing - actually, for the very opposite reason - it is because of this fallen, sinful, broken, fractured world full of injustice, murder, hate and racism, that I want with ALL that I am to CLING to what is good. I want to stay fervent in PRAYER. And continue sharing the HOPE found in Jesus Christ.

It is devastating that nearly every tragedy that has happened recently has turned political. I have come to expect this from the world and media, but it's the multiple believers who have taken to social media platforms to share their controversial opinions and thoughts on how they believe others should be responding, behaving, or championing their cause that is most devastating to me. Instead of being light to the world, some of these words have turned into fuel for the fire.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a passionate and opinionated person. I love a good, healthy debate. But I always want to walk away from the conversation with a hug or a good ole pat on the back, letting the other person know that our difference in opinion does not define our relationship.

When you share an opinion on social media, you are unknowingly creating a divide between you and others who disagree with you. You may never even know who these people are, and may never be able to give them that validation that your relationship with them is not strained. You will walk away feeling justified by those who agree with you, and possibly destroying any amount of influence you have to speak into the life of someone else.

I have read through enough personal opinions over the last month to know that I'll probably never agree with anyone 100 percent of the time. Unfortunately, social media makes the weight of that divide feel even greater. The likes, the retweets, the camps that are formed around which "hashtag" is most appropriate, while real families and real people are hurting and in need of hope. The hashtag will do nothing. Your relationship with them will.

Let me be honest, I wrote a whole comment on an Instagram post in response to the tragic weekend we had with the deaths of two black men and the police officers in Dallas. I wrote it in anger. I have my opinions. I have my grievances. My heart is broken for the terrorism that our country and world is facing.

Thankfully, I wrote it at 5am when no one else was likely awake, and was able to delete it 2 minutes later.

Because, my opinion wasn't worth costing me a relationship.

Instead, I prayed. Instead, I turned to Scripture for comfort and encouragement. Instead, I spoke those words aloud in my car to Jesus that I so badly wanted to type up and rant on some girl's poor Instagram post.

I believe you can grieve, without intentionally creating a divide. You can pray, without standing on the corner of a street and announcing it. And you can be confident that the God of peace will soon crush every tactic the enemy is using to create division in His church. Be on guard, brothers and sisters, our relationships are more important than our opinions.

“And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people. But everyone knows that you are obedient to the Lord. This makes me very happy. I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” - Romans‬ ‭16:17-20‬ ‭