Prayers Over Posts: Choosing Peace Over Facebook Outrage

Between lost shoes, spilled cereal, and a million tiny emergencies, the last thing I needed was Facebook trying to ruin my morning.

Over lunch, I logged on to Facebook hoping for a little escape: funny memes, stories about other people’s kids, or maybe some photography from national parks. But instead, I was hit with another barrage of negativity. Someone political had been killed, and my feed was flooded with people on every side, all sharing outrage, grief, or judgment.

I scrolled past posts like: “I’m glad this person died,” “This person was inherently evil, and now they're dead - oh well,” or “This person was the best, I can’t believe they’re gone.” And then one voice of reason: someone I know was from the other political side from the person who died wrote, “Nobody should have to die for the right to free speech.” That was it. One clear, level-headed post in a sea of nonsense.

It got me thinking: passion isn’t inherently bad, but when our passion becomes parroting what we hear on the news or social media instead of speaking from our hearts, it divides us. People we don’t know, or even like, dictate our outrage and our allegiances. And for me, that’s not healthy. It’s why I’ve mostly stepped out of the online arena. My words aren’t going to change anyone’s mind on these deeply rooted issues, abortion, gun control, immigration, voting, and the endless arguing only clouds the moments that matter most.

If I want to influence someone, I talk to them directly, with compassion and care. Not from a nameless, faceless post on a platform meant to be an escape. When tragedy or suffering happens: a death, an accident, someone in an ambulance, I stop, and I pray. I don’t care about their politics. My prayers go out to the soul in need, because God exists outside of time and space. Our prayers matter. Before, during, or after someone passes.

So here’s my takeaway: stop letting other people think for you. Open your eyes. Nothing is one-sided like Facebook makes it seem. Pray when something troubles you, and make sure your actions align with your faith.

And one more thing—nobody cares about your political opinions on Facebook. You might get a few nods from like-minded people, a lot of silence, or even lose a friend. Politics aren’t more important than your family, your friends, or your peace of mind.

By the way, I deleted Facebook off my phone on another heavy day, during the Guadalupe floods, because as sad as I was, I was also tired of the continuous barrage of gut wrenching tragedy. Also, there were those who said things like, “All Texans deserve to die.” News flash: my family doesn’t deserve that, and neither does yours, red or blue. I do not regret hitting uninstall. Having to be on my computer to log in has brought me more peace than I realized I needed.

Social media can wait. Real life and real prayer can’t.

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I know how easy it is to get lost in the chaos of motherhood, forgetting that you’re more than the tasks you juggle. At Kristian Hutchings Portraits, I’ve built an experience where you can step out of the rush and into a space designed just for you. From pampering to posing, I’ll take care of every detail so you can feel beautiful, confident, and completely seen.

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Kristian is a mom of six, Program Manager by day, active Professional Photographer by trade, and a big believer in finding beauty in the everyday chaos.

Life in our house is loud, messy and full of literally everything. Love, noise, laundry, laughter, and definitely could use a bit more grace. I'm happily married to my best friend, grounded in my Catholic faith, and fueled by five to six hours of sleep per night and adrenaline.

I try to find joy in the everyday — even when it's wild, because without the little bit of joy, this life would be unbearable. This space is for the moms in the middle of it all: the ones juggling family, faith, work, and wonder. The ones that need someone else's messy life to make their own seem better or somewhat normal. You're not alone, and you're doing better than you think.

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