Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Today I am thankful for people who keep me "in the loop" about shared "invisible friends". You know, those friends of friends or online friends that have become so important to so many of us.
I have been fortunate to have met in person several of my online friends. I have not been able to meet in person many people who became important to me through their service, help, and friendship to my son, for example.
Online friends are easy to lose track of, especially if you're relying on social media posts and comments for awareness of their presence and well-being. I'm thankful for those who "check in" now and again with a post.
In the past week, I have learned through some of these "keep others in the loop" folks of the passing of a man dear to my son, and of an online friend being hospitalized. Is this passing along of tidbits of the lives of others "gossip"? Perhaps. But the word "gossip" has a negative association. I suppose you could say "I'm thankful for kind gossip", not the kind that rejoices in the troubles of others... the kind that alerts one to be kinder, or to reach out and help, or to direct prayers (those of you who pray, you know this one).
I have learned through check-in posts of the progress in life of a beloved but not often contacted niece, and another online friend
As we sink into the virtual world, let us not completely withdraw from the one we breathe in.
We must be on the same wave-length because my post today was about being grateful for friends. No, telling someone about the health or passing of a friend in not gossip because gossip is done to hurt the person being gossiped about but sharing life news gives friends the chance to pray for or remember or just do a kindness to someone. I know I am really grateful for that. I learned the passing of a spark friend when their friend posted on their page of their passing. It meant the world to me to know that. Huge hugs and thanks for being such a good online friend to me.
ReplyDeleteAnd I return thanks for your friendship! I think as the Spark community dispersed, it has been a blessing to find out about our fellows, and to pass the word along because we're connected to one another in such a disjointed way. I may have friends A, B and C but not D, you might have D, E, and A, but not B and C... with whom we still have contact.
DeleteA good mid-week to you and yours!
Oh my, I am grateful for learning of online friends, acquaintances that I’ve lost track of, too. Have to admit, getting to the age category where not hearing from someone who is regularly on line worries me . . . what happened to them? Are they ok? Yes, I learned of a friend who hadn’t been heard from for awhile and the reason . . . hospitalized. *SIGH*
ReplyDeleteIMHO, nope, it’s not gossip. We become like family!
And as you say. however, we dare not withdraw from those that are loved in our REAL life, either.
That photo of Ember is absolutely adorable!
hugs
barb
1cd
Exactly... we're like moms whose kids forgot to turn off the signal light. My kid sis and I exchange text messages in the morning to let one another know we're both still breathing. "At our age" we need such signals!
DeleteAwww, thanks for liking the photo! I took about three to catch that one angle... they keep moving, these pets!