“Anne was always glad in the happiness of her friends; but it is sometimes a little lonely to be surrounded everywhere by happiness that is not your own.”  ( L.M. Montgomery, author of the book Anne of Green Gables)

It’s true, isn’t it?  And nowhere do we see this more than on social media.  When things are hard in your life, it makes it even harder to see how bright and shiny things look in others’ lives.

Grief and sadness can be such isolating emotions.

But deep down we all know there’s more to the story than the eye can see from that Facebook post.  There are the moments just before that photo was taken when the kids were fighting.  The smiles we see cover up the worry and the heartache that can keep them up at night.

The older I get the more I realize that everyone is dealing with something.

So when we come across those Facebook posts of people with their big smiles and their happy stories, we can look at them a little differently.  Rather than allowing envy and resentment to creep in, recognize those highlight reels represent their determination to persevere in the face of difficulties.

Use this as an opportunity for encouragement, and like and comment on that post.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."  (1 Thess. 5:11)

“Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself, and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves.  Living for others is a rule of nature.  We are all born to help each other no matter how difficult it is…Life is good when you are happy; but much better when others are happy because of you.”  -Pope Francis