The Hidden Value of Social Networking

I often see Facebook as a curse, and addiction
a morbid curiosity in to the past,
present
it can, like all things
be used for “good” or “evil”

I have a friend
who recently had a stroke
she is a young mother
and while we just started communicating
again after years,
there are still all those ties
of friends
inside jokes
shared experiences
ups and downs
history

She doesn’t want anyone
to come see her
she says she’s a mess
so she posts on Facebook
and communicates that way

and we all respond
I see how it keeps her
connected with the outside world
and tied to the invisible
bonds so many have to her
bonds of admiration
and love

So I feel as if
each time one of her
friends comments
or gives her feedback
that we are all
silently
holding
her up
with one finger each
and doing our best
to gently carry her
through this time
with our hearts.

~Jenny