I have been asked over the last few years why I blog. I have pondered over my goals and intentions and motives many times. I have asked myself soul searching questions:
Am I trying to be famous?
Am I trying to help others?
Do I just want to be heard?
Is my blog my creative outlet?
Is it a place to record my thoughts and feelings for future generations?
Am I wanting validation or acceptance?
Am I trying to prove something?
Etc. Etc. Etc.
I’ve honestly answered these questions. And I’ve decided, while it is nice to have recognition and respect, the main reason I blog is to help others. I drive myself crazing thinking so you don’t have to.
This truthful answer spawned more questions: How many people need to read my blog in order for me to feel like the time I spend blogging is worth it? How many people do I need to help?
I see other blogs with hundreds of comments, and self-doubt starts to creep in. I get insecure that I am making a fool of myself or that I am wasting my time. I found my “blogging worth” getting caught up in how many Facebook likes, shares, or blog comments I would receive on a post. I attached my significance to large numbers.
That is until I starting pondering on some scriptures:
“Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God”
“And if it so be that you should …. bring, save it be ONE soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!”
“How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and ONE of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.”
And then there is my favorite definition of success by Ralph Waldo Emerson:
“To laugh often and much, to win respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even ONE life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”
All of the above thoughts are about the ONE, not the masses.
So when I write a post On Grace and I only get one comment, that’s okay. Because the commenter said she had never understood grace before and this post helped her understand it better.
“I really like this analogy and can relate. Just last week we raked a bunch of leaves in our backyard and I was obsessed with getting every leaf. But no matter what I did I couldn’t get them all with our old plastic rake and my kids kept thwarting my efforts by playing in them and scattering them everywhere. But then, like your story, my husband got out the mower and sucked the stray ones up and the yard looked great in no time. I have never really understood how grace works in relation to the atonement but this totally makes sense and helps me understand it so much better. Thanks, this post really helped me tonight!”
I helped Christina.
After posting some summer schedule ideas, Leah Mae said,
“Thanks so much for you great chore chart idea, it’s exactly what I’ve been looking for! My old ones weren’t working for the summer and I couldn’t figure out how to switch them up.”
That post helped Leah Mae.
Or when I posted a quote that helped me through a difficult time, Evaly responded with “I love this and needed it today. Thanks.”
I helped Evaly.
All of my posts don’t help everybody. That is an impossible task. But one post helped one person and that is good enough for me. And, sometimes, the one may even just be me.
I don’t need hundreds of comments, thousands of blog followers, or to be “liked” lots on Facebook.
I am content with knowing that “one life has breathed easier“. I will consider my blog a success just helping the one, not the ninety and nine.
We don’t need to be the big dog on campus, the Relief Society President, or chairman of the board. We don’t need to have thousands of Facebook friends or hundreds of Instagram likes. We don’t need big numbers to validate who we are and what we do.
We just need to be a neighbor, a friend, or a visiting teacher to the ONE. We just need to be moms doing what we do with our kids because we are making a difference to them.
Influencing ONE life is just as significant as influencing hundreds.
That’s one thing I’ve learned from blogging. 🙂
![I spoke in church today and said the Atonement of Jesus Christ is the greatest act of Charity. I read Moroni 7:45-47 to make my point. But wherever there was the word ‘Charity’ I substituted it out for ‘the Atonement of Jesus Christ.’ See if these scripture verses now have new meaning for you:
“And the Atonement of Jesus Christ suffererth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth in the truth,
[The Atonement of Jesus Christ] beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not the Atonement of Jesus Christ, ye are nothing, for the Atonement of Jesus Christ never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail-
But the Atonement of Jesus Christ is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.”
So Easter really reminds us of love. The first and greatest commandment.](https://www.raisinglemons.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png)
I just wanted you to know much I enjoy your blog. I am sorry I have never commented before. Your posts have influenced me and my family. We do 5 in 5. I am saving the elegant snowman costume idea for a few more years, and I loved your post about hope (that is how I found you.) Your posts seem to reflect a real person with a real life with perfect and not so perfect moments. Thank you for blogging!
I don’t comment often, but I always read your blog posts. I’m glad that you have continued writing…I love reading what you write!! Sometimes you even reach the ONE who doesn’t comment! 🙂 I appreciate your efforts and hope you have had a wonderful holiday with your family!
My life has breathed easier since I found your blog. A friend sent me a link to your post about sending your little guy off on the “short bus” with his character backpack, because I had just done the same thing. Your words echoed what was in my own heart. I’ve read your blog ever since and you have inspired me in so many ways. Thank you for sharing, teaching, lifting and inspiring all of the “ones.”
Your sister-in-law Stacey (we have been friends since we were 12) is the one who directed me to your blog right after you started it. I have loved it ever since. One of my favorite post’s you have ever written was the on titled “Why I am not worried about the Bloody Knife”.
Ooh. That was a good post. I forgot all about it. Now my sons is obsessed with drawing sports guys so I guess it is just a phase. Thanks for reminding me about this and thanks for reading the blog!
I’ve commented here and there on a few posts….I even thought about you while I wrapped my Christmas presents this year in my darling bags that I made last year because I was influenced by your post. (PS It took ma all of 30 minutes to wrap because I did all the hard work last year) There have even been times when I have thought to myself ” I wonder if Tiffany has ever posted about this topic.” and then come to the blog to search! I feel like you stand for the values that I want to stand for… and as my kids are only 2 and 8 months I look forward to them growing so I can compare Santa to Sex……ear piercing (when the time is right for us.)….etc! So Thanks Thanks Thanks again and again. I love this blog. 🙂
Thanks, Amee. I am so glad you made the bags and they saved you time. And you get to use them next year too. Yeah!
I think once people read a few of your posts they will know why you blog. I did that, and immediately knew what your intention was…my impression? to share experience, help and uplift others. That’s why I stick around. You don’t find too many blogs that can effectively do that.
I also love your blog! I think there are a lot of “silent readers’ now days. You have so many fantastic points of view on parenting that I am looking forward to using on mary! Keep blogging! And I still need to come visit you sometime. Let’s set something up!
I read your blog all the time, I really look forward to new posts! Thanks for sharing and continuing, and helping “the one” 🙂
I regularly read, and I try to comment when I have something to add. One thing that I do like on other blogs, and I don’t see often here, if having the blogger respond to comments – it can make it feel more like a community or a conversation. I understand you have to do what’s comfortable with you, but I’d love to get to know you better through comments as well as posts
Thanks for the suggestion, Sarah. I have responded to comments before, but I am not sure if the commenter every sees them. So sometimes I reply directly to their email, but then I guess that doesn’t let others be a part of the conversation. I do respond a lot more on my Raising Lemons Facebook page as well as ask questions, post quotes, reminders, etc. so that probably feels more like a community than the blog. I will take your advice and try to reply more on the blog because replies are archived here forever and more people can see them. Thanks!
You raise a good point – I don’t have you on my Facebook account(s), so I could definitely look to doing that too. I’m pretty accustomed to reading a new post on a blog, and then checking back to the last post and any replies. I suppose I might be special in that case! I’ll go add you to Facebook and read your latest post on NYE. Thanks for the reply
I know I am a little late to chime in, but I love your blog!! You have helped me a ton. Love your insight into parenting. Please don’t stop!!
Stacey S.
Ooh Ooh, me too! I also love reading your blog. I look forward to all of your new posts. You have given me the courage to pull my 5th grader out of school mid-year to home school. I never would have dared if I hadn’t have read “Unexpected Joy” and “Ready! Fire! Aim!”. Thank you for your awesome example Tiffany!
Holy crap, Carrie! Yeah! I am so proud of you. I know it is scary. My 1st grader is begging me and I am still scared even though I am already doing it with my 6th grader. I have a few more posts coming up about homeschooling so hopefully those will help too. Please contact me if you have any questions. I want this to be successful for you both. Maybe we could meet up on a field trip sometime 🙂
I have said this before, but it’s worth repeating… You and I could be great friends! Our ideas about life and parenting align. I feel like you say what I’m thinking…or have been pondering.
I have also learned and applied things you have blogged about. The one post I can remember off the top of my head was about “staging”? (Can’t remember if that’s what it was called, but it’s where you organize items into baskets to plan for upcoming events.) I used that idea when planning a huge cousin reunion. It worked great. –There have been so many others too.
I love reading your blog and appreciate the time and effort you put into it. Thank you!!!
Thank you, Alisha! I would love to be friends. And for the record it was “war bins” 🙂 I am glad that idea works for you too. I still use mine all the time.