A Prayer for My Children: Don’t Live for the Audience

Originally posted September 19, 2013

Kids, you are growing up in a different world than I grew up in.  Your lives will always be lived in front of an audience.  Already the cute things you say and do end up on my Facebook page, and my friends press “like” or leave nice comments.  Your pictures are already on the internet, where lots of people look at you and comment on how much you’re growing or how much you look like your daddy.  I have to admit, I enjoy having a place to share you with my little world of friends and family.

But, I try not to let the display of our lives on the internet invade the secret moments of our life together.  We can all laugh about something hilarious that Sawyer says, but I promise I won’t reveal things about you that the world doesn’t need to know.  There are special, sacred moments of our life that belong only to us.

Remember this, kids.  Remember that some things in your life are not for the audience.  Some sweet, tender, special times are just for you and the people you are closest to.  You see, we all have to fight the urge to let the audience in on what is precious.  But, we must fight that urge.  Because some things deserve privacy.  Some stories should not be told, just experienced.  Some moments are ruined when you let the world in on them.

So, my prayer for you, my beautiful children, is that in your life you will recognize what  is appropriate for the audience and what is not.  And when you are husbands and wives and parents, I pray that you will not let the audience dictate how you live a single day of your life.  Not all days are for audience-worthy arts and crafts or homemade soap or your latest culinary delight.  Some days are for lying on a blanket in the backyard with your kids, soaking in the sunshine and giggling until your sides hurt.  And some days are for trying your hardest to safely store away in your mind’s eye the expression on your child’s face when he finally learns to stay up on his bike.  And those kinds of days, dear children, are not days for the audience.  They are days that only you can see the depth and the greatness of.

It’s okay not to share those moments with the world.

Sometimes I fear that our families are losing their sacred moments to an audience that doesn’t really care.  So, share pictures, kids.  Share stories.  Let your friends in on the successes and failures of your day.  But, don’t forget to reserve some special experiences as your own, not to be shared or commented on or “liked.”  Just to be experienced.  Lived.  And enjoyed without reservation or an audience-driven motive.

I have no doubt you will navigate these tricky waters well, my babies.  I hope that I can be a good example to you by providing plenty of sacred moments that are ours alone.