Watching my grandchildren growing up at breakneck speed before my very eyes is mind boggling. As their personalities develop more and more, it’s fun to see their likes and dislikes. Maci who isn’t 3 yet wants to put a tutu on over every outfit, because there’s not much she wants more than to be a ballerina. Yesterday I watched her run around a basement full of 8-year-old girls for Lyla’s birthday party, so excited to be with the big girls, to look like them, and to do the things they do. To my almost 3-year-old Maci, these little 2nd graders are her influencers!
Now, don’t laugh, but I just heard that term “social media influencer” a couple of years ago when a friend pointed out that someone we knew was one… an “influencer,” and said it as though this individual were a celebrity. I had never heard the term before, so I went to my daughter-in-law, Holly, to get some education on what exactly a social media influencer is. I often go to her when I need someone to “splain” it to me. And someday, if you’re as blessed as me to AGE, you’ll be getting things “splained” to you by the younger people in your life too, so no eye rolling here. Rather, take note…
My grandchildren don’t need to be on any social media platforms to be influenced, or to be influencers themselves. They hang on every word their Mom & Dad tell them as truth, and while I know from experience that kids grow up, form their own opinions, and are not always as obedient as they are at this young age – their current sweet loyalty and obedience certainly shows the power of influence. And might I add – during the most crucial and influential years of their entire lives! My daughter-in-law combs through every library book they choose before it comes home. They control how much TV and screen time they get, what shows they watch, and if you tried to tell them a secret, they would promptly inform you that we don’t keep secrets in our family.
By the way – before you think I’m bragging about the best-behaved and perfect grandchildren of mine – trust me, they frequently clobber each other over the head and need correction and time-out. Frequently.
We never outgrow influencers.
Have you ever spent any time down south and picked up a little bit of a southern twang? Lived through the 70’s and called something “far out,” or like my granddaughter did yesterday to describe something, used the word “literally” in a sentence? Well, congratulations – you’ve been influenced.
Thanks to my daughter-in-law, I am now keenly aware of what a social media influencer is, and they are pretty hard to avoid, and though I may or may not be guilty of owning a couple of pairs of shoes because I’ve been influenced, I have been thinking a lot lately about this now new-to-me field of work. If the internet went down, how would these said influencers provide for their families? I’ve often wondered. I hope they’ve got another skill set.
Someone has to spend an incredibly gross amount of time on social media to be sought after to become an influencer, which means alllll dayyyyy longgggg they are in front of their very own cameras or phones looking at themselves. Oh sure, your name might pop up at the bottom of the screen, and they might pick your name to give you a shout out, to say good morning to make you feel seen, but they are not looking at YOU, and they don’t care about you. They just want you to buy their product, use their discount code, and earn them some money. It’s their JOB. It’s not you they’re looking at – it’s themselves. All day. All day looking at themselves. Nauseating. And every time someone uses their product code to purchase what they are using on their hair, on their eyelashes, what they are wearing that day, or using in their kitchen to cook dinner, THEY benefit.
$$$ CHA-CHING $$$
I know, I know… it’s the new way of advertising. I get it, believe me. (Remember, I just bought 2 new pairs of shoes). But stick with me, cuz I’m going somewhere with this.
At the end of the day, after I’ve found myself guilty having scrolled through I-don’t-know-how-many Instagram reels, and sending all the funny ones back and forth with my friend Zhela, I realize how influenced I’ve been. Am I better for it?
Nope. I just own two more pairs of shoes, that’s all – and maybe shared a chuckle or two with my friend.
I’d have been far better off having spent that time being influenced by someone who doesn’t ask me to DM, PM, or text them, but is willing to drive 10 or 12 miles to meet in the middle for a meal. They actually know my name, have my best interest in mind, and want me to grow as a more committed follower of Christ. Their underlying motivation in spending even just a little bit of time with me is not about benefiting FROM me. We sharpen each other’s iron. It’s called mutual discipleship. They are not someone who pops up in a reel on any social media platform typing out a prayer (as if Jesus were even on FaceBook and that’s where He goes to read our prayers). They are not begging for attention, kudos, and compliments. They don’t tell me to put more faith in myself, or to live myself for myself, but quietly and without seeking recognition serve others in all sorts of ways. They don’t ask me to use their discount codes to store up earthly treasures that they will ultimately benefit from, they don’t beg for attention or subtly suggest that I basically – be more like them. And friends, there is absolutely nothing humble about being in front of a camera all day. Nothing. So I, in the words of my little granddaughter, “literally” never see them in front of a camera.
Who’s name would you use to fill in this blank? “Be imitators of __________, as she is of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1
Several come to mind for me, but they wouldn’t want me to draw any attention to them, so I won’t.
It is true that these young years with my grandchildren are incredibly influential, and what goes into their little bodies, minds, and hearts is more important than we realize. But so it is with our older bodies, minds, and hearts. (A short scroll on any social platform will prove it, especially during an election season. DON’T DO IT!)
So by all means, be influenced, and follow someone who follows Christ and have made it their mission to point others to Him. Listen to or watch Katherine Wolf or Joni Eareckson Tada who show us how to suffer well, and display a beauty cultivated through suffering instead of mascara, and a humility that only develops through time and intimacy with our Savior. And make sure you have a friend who calls you on her way home from church, excited to share all that she learned in her Theology of Friendship class. Yes, definitely have a few of those!
“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:20
Being an influencer is nothing more than being an iron sharpener. And getting influenced, is nothing more than having your iron sharpened. We all choose who influences us, and who sharpens us, but we also cannot forget that we too will influence and sharpen others. Like it or not – we are ALL influencers. So be careful. Be very careful.
And if you do in fact, find yourself scrolling through nonsense, call me. (No DM’s or PM’s). I’ll meet you for pancakes and bacon, and in between bites we can sharpen each other’s iron, and talk about bigger stuff than make-up, mascara, and people.
Have a good day, and go influence somebody 😉
“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 ESV
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