The fear of missing out

Millennials are know for their fear of missing out...

Special needs parents are known for their fear of being left out...


There are roots to where both of those come from...

Millennials watch the world go on around them online... before this you only knew about something happening if someone directly told you about it. There were so many things going on that you would have no idea about just because of the way people communicated... however now you can see everything going on and while it is going on.

Special needs parents often feel left out. Many of those feelings are grounded in truth. There are plenty of studies out there that kiddos with special needs are invited to less events then their peers. There are also studies on the isolation that can often to families with a kiddo with special needs. Even just observing culture this isn't a hard concept to understand.


I was on social media a bit ago and saw a post that made me feel bummed that we were not doing something. It wasn't a big deal of something and really more of feeling bummed then feeling left out. I continued to scroll and I could feel God reminding me of truths that He has taught me but that are so easy to forget as soon as life does not feel perfect.

His voice reminded me that He had not asked me to be in that situation. That I was not called to be there today and that He had other plans for me today.

It can be really easy to feel like your called to be at every good place at every moment...  that just isn't possible. And often God is calling you to be right where you are at, as long as you have been seeking his guidance on where to be. It can be easy to feel like you are missing out at helping in another place while you are missing out on helping in the place you are right now.

This situation I was bummed about not being at was a good situation that would have given me the opportunity to love others, but God was not asking me to be there right then, He had the people He needed to be in that situation in that situation.

I then started thinking about other times and situations where I have been bummed to not be able to do something and remembered what I God has taught me...

That if there is a strong desire on my heart, that in the right time, as I continue to seek God's guidance, He will fulfill the longings of my heart...

OR...

As I grow closer to Him, He will change the longings of my heart and I will find contentment.

Either way is beautiful and follows His plan.


But the key is seeking Him and following His ways.
 (there are fully times where God has called me to act and love others and I have not and that is on me)


This week God has asked me to write more and move less and sometimes that feels uncomfortable, but if I keep seeking Him, I know that He is using everything for His purpose.

The one thing I know He always calls me to do is love others... and the great thing is that we have the opportunity to do that no matter what our situation at that moment looks like... there are always people to love.

I don't remember why I made this when I was in college... I remember lighting the grey paper on fire and it burning faster then I planned (ops!) but I stumbled upon it today while looking for something and thought it was fitting... its a good reminder of the lessons that God has taught me over the years.