Dear Dad –
Today, I am reminded of you and how when you were upset people knew. Now I am not saying you handled every situation the best way it could have been handled, but you did let the person know how you were feeling. I posted the other day about social media, but I feel it needs another post. Is social media good or is it bad? Does the good outweigh the bad? I believe social media gives everyone an easy way out. Whether you are mad at your significant other, family, boss, church, school, you name it people vent about it on social media. I read a devotion on Monday about the hatred that is posted on social media. The author stated that the anonymity and reach of social media have made it possible for anyone to spread hatred without having to face their victim. She also stated that people post impulsive insults, setting off an outpouring of like-minded enmity. This devotion was published to be read on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The day in honor of a man who showed us the impact of loving one’s neighbor. The day in honor of a man who knew that darkness could not drive out darkness. A man who knew only light could do that. A man who knew that hate could not drive out hate. No, only love could do that. It is sad to see the hatred on social media. Dad, it can be about a more serious event or it could be expressing so much hate because someone got their fast food order wrong. It could be a post badmouthing their family or the school district. During COVID the amount of posts expressing hateful comments to the school, superintendent, and teachers blows my mind. As the author said though social media gives them the outlet to say what they want without facing the victim. Dad, you always taught me to not say it if I wouldn’t say it to the person’s face. Imagine if we all paused for a moment, counted to 20, and thought about our post or response before commenting. Maybe you go for a walk or maybe you listen to a song before you react. Maybe you say a prayer. Give it some time instead of an immediate reaction. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said only love can drive out the hate. Dad, I watched you grow in your faith and I watched you go back and apologize to people who you just let have it instead of pausing or walking away. Thank you for the example. We are all not going to see eye to eye and that’s okay. I challenge you friends to only post something positive from now until Valentine’s Day. I challenge you to pause before reacting. I challenge you to think before addressing the issue. I am not saying you cannot express your concerns, but is social media really the outlet for that? Approach the person or persons and have an intelligent conversation about the issue. Let’s leave social media for expressing love and use it as a way to shine our light. Dad, thanks again for the life lessons.