I’m so embarrassed to share this, and say this out loud, but I think I have an addiction. The Merriam Webster dictionary defines addiction as follows:
Definition of ADDICTION
My husband is constantly telling me that I’m on it too much, and I can tell that while i’m out in the kitchen catching up on mere acquaintanceship with Facebook, [we] are missing out on something greater in our relationship.
He even once had me watch a Dateline NBC special about how the internet interferes with peoples daily lives, and relationships and while I sat there watching, thinking this isn’t me… they’re really bad, and while we agree that i’m truthfully not full out addicted to it, its not interfering with my parenting, or daily living… Facebooking, and Pinteresting, and the tweeting is is making my husband feel like he is competing for my time.
And that is not ok. We can have a greater relationship, and a stronger relationship if I put in as much time and devotion to us then my old high school/navy friends that if i’m honest with myself aren’t worth as much time as I’m giving them.
If you asked me what my top 5 things/people in life I would instantly tell you:
* My relationship with God
* My Husband
* My daughter
* My work
* My fitness
But if you looked at how I spent my time, I’d ashamedly have to admit “fostering relationships with acquaintances” and “trying to impress/get many followers on Twitter to be popular” would be right up towards the top.
It finally REALLY hit me when reading Chapter 4 last night. This is something I need to burn – or at a bare minimum take out to the woods and start on fire. While I’m not really ready to completely torch my social networks (delete my accounts) I plan to severely limit myself to checking them out.
I’m changing my password to something very weird, and jibbery so that it’d be impossible to remember off the top of my head.
I think my relationships that I listed as the most important above have such the potential to be greater with this small step!
Here’s to burning my plows.
“For Jesus’ disciples, burning the plows meant leaving their fishing nets and boats {Matthew 4:18-22}.
1 Kings 19:21″So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant.”
Little Blessed Life 
Ouch! Oh my goodness, I LOVE this post (I think) Although, you are stepping on my toes. I guess I sorta new I was addicted to FB, but my excuse is being an OBS leader I need to be in here all the time. But something kept bugging me that I needed to "not" be in it all day off and on! I really do love your thoughts because you "spoke to me!" Thank you so much for sharing, because I have a feeling that many of us need to "burn the plow" of NOT letting FB take over our lives! God Bless You!!
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You are stepping on my toes too! Not going to burn that bridge totally – I need facebook to be with my group on my Bible Study but I am toning down my time too and I made a commitment to God long ago that what I post will honor Him. I hope to reach lives and touch hearts thru my facebook time. Some days like today it's alot, but if one person reads a post and comes to know God it will be worth it all. But I am with you to simply stay on there all day with no purpose is not good to let it take over our lives. Debbie Williams (OBS Leader)
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God must be speaking! I was convicted this week also that FB has been taking over way too much of my life. I was challenged to go without FB for 48 and I cannot tell you how much better I feel!! I now feel that God is challenging me to have one 24 hour period each week off FB. Now that's hard because I lead online bible studies groups via FB but I know God is bigger than me and I am burning that plow. All the best for your own FB Challenge. I look forward to hearing how you get on.God bless youLoveNicki Edwards (OBS Leader)
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Thanks ladies~ I too lead a small group and we have an online fb "secret" group. Its hard to cut it out, but I think like you said Nikki it can free you up! Once I was up camping in Northern MN and had no cell service, so no access to any social media for 4 days, and it was SO LIBERATING!!! I'm going to try and view facebook JUST on Friday's and Tuesdays, and see how that goes. Thanks so much for the encouragement!
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That's a tough one and I'm sure speaks to many women who will read this. I try to schedule in the big priorities of my life but I know that internet, television, and as you said, "acquaintances" on fb, take far too much time away from real life improvements and projects that could benefit my life far more. That honesty is refreshing!
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