Like all first time mothers, I grappled in the dark, finding my way forward and rearranging my life to discover how to unearth my new self in the light of soiled diapers and late night prayers {“Please God, make this baby sleep!”}.
It was in those early days that I began blogging. Though I’d never read a blog before, I decided I needed an outlet for my adult thoughts and a way to stretch my world beyond the laundry room, hence the first version of my blog was born soon after my firstborn son. I wrote to connect with other mothers and to know I wasn’t alone in my disheveled quest to find my way back to normal. {It didn’t take long to collectively realize we were all searching for our new normal—there was no way back to the one we had known.}
Soon after starting my blog I met Jessica {the co-founder here at Grace for Moms}. She was a new author and was looking for bloggers to host a review and giveaway of her book, The Pregnancy Companion {have you read it yet? So good!}. Even in my early days of blogging, I never much cared for reviews, but Jess’s was different. Hers was a book I really believed in so I responded to her email with an unreserved YES.
I promoted her book {after devouring it for myself} and we became fast friends. It was clear we have a shared heart for Jesus and for encouraging moms and growing healthy families. More than four years later we finally had the chance to meet in person at a blogging/writing conference a few weeks ago and I want to tell you this, friends: Jess is every bit as wonderful in person as she is online. She’s the real deal—a strong and sweet woman of faith with a lens of grace that she sees others through that translates into her every interaction.
Why am I spending a post gushing about Jess and telling you our friend-story? Because finding and building friendship is not always easy, but when it comes, it’s worth the investment. Some people think it’s strange that a few of my closest friends are ones that have been forged on blog comment threads or across social media, but I say that any friendship God gives is one I’m willing to bank on. Some of my dearest friends have found their husbands via online dating sites, and although I met Ryan the old fashioned way, I’ve met some of my closest girlfriends by reading and interacting with each other’s blogs.
You may find it hard to connect online or in person. No one guaranteed friendship would be easy to find or simple to grow. But let me encourage you, when you find it, treasure it. Give it the honor it deserves. Thank God for it.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up. . . 1 Thessalonians 5:11 {NIV}
When we say online friendships can’t replace real life friendships we’re missing the point. Instead of focusing on the adjective {online/real life}, how about we focus on the noun—friendship. {And I would argue that my online friends are every bit as “real life” as the ones I get to see face-to-face at church.} Wherever your deepest, truest friendships are, develop them there. We all rant and rave about how connectedness disconnects us {and it’s true—we must be mindful and we need face-to-face, flesh and blood community}, but let’s not forget how beautiful our connectedness can be when we treat our online friendships like the real friendships they are.
Friends: Have you developed friendships online? If not, what’s holding you back? If so, what’s been the biggest blessing that’s come out of it for you?
P.S. And then—when you can—try to meet up in person! There’s nothing better than being able to hug someone’s neck that you’ve loved for years across the interwebs. Look at Jess, Kristy, and I from our time together a few weeks ago—such a gift!!!
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