We are good at wearing masks. Oh, but wait a minute? It’s normal to wear a mask today! True. There are some pretty elaborate and creative masks that showcase talent. Masks allow people to be something they are not. Maybe we can generalize this to everyday life. Sometimes we have to not show everything. There’s wisdom in that. But, if carried too far, we create isolation. I learned from today’s Weekly encouragement! that social media can be like a disguise. We see posts of our best sides, sometimes, and we don’t see the real person behind the post. You might not know I’m a broken and troubled person, calling daily on the grace of God and His goodness. I’m afforded a grace to not constantly let you know. I suppose I wear a mask in social media. And there are dangers in social media that take young people (and older persons, as well) into difficult emotional places. A lot must be guarded against in social media! It has already stolen from us societally personally, which impacts every part of society. There’s a protection that must be afforded children in emotional and spiritual ways. We’ve possibly traded this for protecting in physical ways so children don’t get harmed in physical ways (which is good). But, especially if we give young people a device, they may be experiencing social, emotional, spiritual things that take from them and from all of us in societal ways. I appreciate the trend I see in some homes that opens the door for real person to person connection. This is a safeguard personally and more, as I believe this impacts the health of society. And of each child. For their lifetime. If we want more health in our children, families, and society, we have personal power and responsiveness to not encourage children or ourselves as adults to wear a mask. To not scroll down to the bottom of society’s souls and to not contribute to the anxiety our children experience from unprotected social media and unprotected society without a mask. The ill of society isn’t hidden from children anymore, at least not enough, possibly. Little hands can handle a 5 inch device but little hearts can’t. No question about it when it comes to some social media invading children’s hearts and minds. I’m grateful for this opportunity to share a timely word for today that we need real connection, not digital connection. Jesus was the Word in the flesh, the real demonstration of God’s love. The written word is the Bible and Jesus is the Word of God and from God. We need to be real people to one another. And we need this for ourselves. Please remember I’m praying for you because I love you.