Here are some words I shared on Instagram today:
I hope you had a lovey Christmas, and Happy New Year from the Ramsey fam to you and your family! This is a hello and goodbye post all in one, but first, here are some photos from our Christmas.
Okay friends, I’m here to say goodbye, at least for 2024. But as Alexander said when I told him I was going to be off insta this coming year, I might not ever get back on. If you’re curious as to why keep flipping through my stories (or keep reading this blog post), and if not, I hope you have a great year, this has been a really sweet space to inspire others and connect with you.
I went back and forth between being on instagram in 2024 and totally being off the grid, but I ultimately came to the conclusion that it isn’t in sync with my overall purpose. This past year I’ve dug more into my purpose – why God created me, why he placed me in this generation, why he gave me certain talents and weaknesses, and what he wants me to do with my short time on this earth, and instagram just doesn’t fit into much of it. I believe my life purpose is to build my life upon Jesus’ love, to renew my mind and think of things that inspire worship to God, to become more like Jesus serving this world as he did, using my voice to speak about his grace and justice, and teaching my kids and others to do the same. And while I can do lots of these things via instagram, it doesn’t feel right, doesn’t feel like the most fruitful thing I can do and it doesn’t feel true to my being.
And if I’m totally honest, I don’t have time to scroll and swipe through other peoples’s lives and it’s weird to me that thousands of people have seen the inside of my home while some of my own neighbors haven’t even stepped foot inside my home. If you’ve followed me for a while you’ll know I have a high standard with boundaries when it comes to my phone and apps and social media spaces, so it’s not even like I scroll a lot or see connecting with people on this app as a waste of time, I’ve been able to meet some amazing people who I would call true friends, but when I read words like “teach me to number my days that I may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90), I can’t help but alter how I’m spending my days.
Recently I read the words “live life with a due sense of responsibility, not as those who do not know the meaning of life, but as those who do” (Ephesians 5:15). I was shook, convicted, and still am as I type those words out, to live my days with intention and purpose, and although I’m not against online spaces, I know that my time is limited and I believe that gaining more knowledge means having more responsibility. If I know how precious my time on earth is, I’m fully responsible for how I choose to use it.
The Bible says in Acts 13 that “for David served the purpose of God in his own generation.” No wonder God called him a “man after his own heart.” David knew his purpose & served God within that purpose all his days. And Jesus did the same, before he died on the cross he was praying and said, “I have brought you (God) glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.” (John 17:4); meaning that Jesus lived in order to die on the cross for us so we would also have life, but the “work” that he completed before he died on the cross was to fulfill other purposes: preparing and teaching his disciples to live like he did, full of worship for his Father, to serve others, tell others the Good News and live among each other to teach and train up the next generation.
You and I were born into THIS generation for a specific reason and a greater purpose, your life has meaning and there are greater things we have yet to do, at least that’s how I feel.
So I’m not completely done with online spaces, you can find me on Facebook (although I’m horrible at posting and checking my notifications). I’m always posting on my blog – pictures and updates, recipes and inspiring others through my words. The second season of the With Passion Podcast will begin sometime soon! And you can stay connected with my family via our monthly emails, kind of like a Christmas card where some families share what happened in that year, but I share blog posts and new podcast episodes, recipes and links on a monthly basis.
Gosh it’s been so fun connecting with you, meeting you, chatting and living life together via instagram. I’ll miss other parts about it, like the creative aspects, but I’ll mostly miss connecting with people because it’s a true love of mine. If we’re in-person friends, yay! And if not but you want to stay connected let me know.
If you recall, I took off social media for nearly 6 months in 2023 (from April – September) and it was the first time in a while I felt more creative, settled, grounded, free and honestly, like myself. As if I was pursuing the quiet life I talk often about, the quiet life Jesus lived and taught about, the quiet life I long for and seek to live and is available to me and you.
I’m excited for less distraction, less influence from others and more time baking breads and other treats with my kids, sipping lattes by candlelight and reading books in front of the fire. See you, instagram, in 2025 (maybe)!