There’s been a lot of noise online this week.
I want to be clear — I’m not bothered by it. Noise is just that. In some ways, I actually feel sadness for people who feel the need to project their pain outward. I could never imagine spending time or energy tearing someone else down online. The truth is, our realities are often reflections of our own experiences.
For context, these photos were taken during a senior football mom-and-son shoot for East Forsyth High School, directed by photographer Amy Jo Wright of Focal Point Sports, with the entire senior football program and their moms participating.
What matters most to me is this:
I know who I am. I know how I show up. And I know what I believe. I know right from wrong and the small percetange that twisted and turned it. I know my son.
Someone chose to take screenshots of a moment meant to celebrate a milestone and spin it into something else. I don’t even use X — I joined only recently to understand what was happening. 17 million and counting and that is just the orginal post. A wave of more came from it as well. What began as negativity quickly turned into something unexpected: people showing up with kindness, support, and perspective. Parents, athletes, sports communities, and even local news helped shift the narrative toward good.
And that’s the part I’ll carry forward.
We live in a world that often focuses more on appearance than character. There will always be differing opinions. There will always be noise. There will always be projections. A lesson I want my son to learn and I often also have to remind myself too.
This Sunday, the verse that keeps returning to me is this:
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:21
My prayer — especially for the young people watching — is that you keep being you. Keep showing up. Keep choosing good. Keep documenting the moments that matter, even when the world has opinions about them. The internet will, well internet. Again just reflections of them.
These photos are special to me. One day, God willing, we’ll look back on them and laugh about that one time a simple senior moment went viral — not explaining it, just remembering it with gratitude.
With gratitude,
Kristy
P.S. There’s a reason I haven’t reshared or engaged with the original post — I’m not feeding it. I’m choosing not to engage or respond.
Instead, I want to say thank you to the people — many of whom don’t even know me — who showed up with kindness, perspective, and support. For us, for our kids, and for all parents navigating these seasons together.
