Woman gives up Facebook for Lent
Feb. 25 — No more status updates. No more pokes or tags or timelines. Glena Suiter is giving up Facebook for God.
The 28-year-old wanted to sacrifice something for Lent that would allow her to be less connected and take time to reflect on personal growth.
At home on French Island, Suiter will use her Facebook time to knit hats for premature babies at local hospitals. She wants to have 40 done by Easter — one for each day of Lent.
People like Suiter across the country are giving up Facebook this year.
Christine Melendes in Chicago told CBS she gave up Facebook to learn something about herself. In Florida, Joan O’Connell and Johanna Cataldi told ABC they’re giving it up to draw themselves closer to God.
But Facebook. Oh, how Suiter misses the status updates. The silly pictures.
“I’m not sure I’ll make it, but I’m going to try,” she said.
Suiter joined Facebook six years ago. Slowly, the social media site grew on her as she found old friends and family members.
Facebook was the first thing she checked when she woke up. She’d sneak a peek through her news feed during the day when she had a spare minute or at night when her two kids went to bed.
She’s not an addict, she says, but it sure is hard not to log on.
“I didn’t think about how much I use it until now,” she said. “I didn’t think it would be such a sacrifice to give up.”
She admits to peeking at Facebook over her husband’s shoulder a few times since Ash Wednesday.
She got the idea to give up the social networking site — which now boasts 845 million active users — as she was scrolling through her news feed and saw a friend was also giving it up.
“I was struggling with what to give up, so I thought I’d give it a try,” she said.
Suiter hasn’t had much luck with giving up things for Lent in the past. Usually she picks soda, but the caffeine-withdrawal headaches are often too hard to overcome.
So far, the temptation of giving in to Facebook hasn’t gotten the best of her, even as email alerts fill her inbox.
It’s for a good cause, Suiter says. The colorful hats for premature babies will give comfort to the families. Suiter’s son was placed in the intermediate care facility when he was born.
“Those were the worst two days of my life,” she said. “So anything I can do to make their time there a little better, I’ll do.”
And if that means giving up Facebook for 40 days, so be it.
Feb 27, 2012 at 6:12 a.m.
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JoyM, you are awesome :D I may be a Geek but I value your ethic and productivity. ^5
Feb 26, 2012 at 8:14 p.m.
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The Bible is not just a story . . . It is God's Word
Feb 26, 2012 at 6 p.m.
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How is giving up being social good?
Feb 26, 2012 at 5:42 p.m.
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About 10 years ago a local minister asked me what I was giving up for Lent. My wife gave me "dirty look" and kicked me, in the shin, under the table because she can read my simple mind. I responded, "Church". The minister looked shocked, not the least bit amused. The statement turned out to be a lie - something I shouldn't do in church, especially to the minister. I still go to church during Lent. I wonder often if I fear God more than my wife's kick. But I still get a rise out of teasing people who are so thin-skinned about their work. Doesn't God have a sense of humor, just look around at your family, friends and creatures in the zoo.
Feb 26, 2012 at 3:17 p.m.
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Do I get points because I never signed up for Facebook in the first place? Somehow I am living a full and happy life and have already created several afghans for the Linus Project in the time I am not burning up on Facebook....
Feb 26, 2012 at 1:36 p.m.
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I think publicly proclaiming to give up something you've lived most of your life without is mocking God. But God cannot be mocked!
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.
A man reaps what he sows - Galatians 6:7
Feb 26, 2012 at 12:55 p.m.
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I'm giving up politicians for Lent.
Feb 26, 2012 at 12:46 p.m.
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What's a Facebook?
Feb 26, 2012 at 11:55 a.m.
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Someone decides to do something positive, "use her Facebook time to knit hats for premature babies at local hospitals", and all we can do is ridicule her?
Beware of judging those for doing too little when you are doing even less.
Feb 26, 2012 at 11:37 a.m.
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aprilgal - you said it yourself... its just a story. Im sorry, nothing anyone did 2000+ years ago is going to depict anything I do today. Also if anyone thinks Jesus is the only one who ever sacrificed himself through out history for anything they are a fruit cake.
Feb 26, 2012 at 10:23 a.m.
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people tell me that jesus died for my sins. I'm doing all I can to make sure it wasn't in vain.
Feb 26, 2012 at 10:05 a.m.
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Oh yea have little faith.
Feb 26, 2012 at 9:59 a.m.
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A woman listened to a talking snake and convinced a guy to take a bite out of a magic apple, god got mad and incarnated himself so that he could forgive them, and somehow we are all responsible for the anger as well. Thus he tortured himself to death and then resurected himself. Makes total sense to give up Facebook to honor that process.
Feb 26, 2012 at 9:49 a.m.
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WOW, what a sacrifice.
Feb 26, 2012 at 6:04 a.m.
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I pray for you misguided people out there. Lent is a time when we are to reflect on what Jesus did for all sinners (even you!) So, by sacrificing something in our life, for time to remember this IS what Jesus wants. (everyday) He is not dead, he did die for our sins, but then on Easter morning rose from the dead and later ascended into Heaven. What we sacrifice is minimal compared to what Jesus sacrificed for you. This is a great story, one that should make you ask "Why is she doing this" and then open your heart, open your bible and you will see your answer.
Feb 26, 2012 at 1:37 a.m.
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deltafox5674 - Jesus died 2012 years ago.. I doubt he really cares or has any concern what anyone does. He cant... hes dead. duh.
Feb 25, 2012 at 11:43 p.m.
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I am totally underwhelmed.
Feb 25, 2012 at 11:15 p.m.
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I will give up the gazette. Now do a story on me!
Feb 25, 2012 at 10:18 p.m.
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I gave up facebook cuz it sucks.
Feb 25, 2012 at 9:17 p.m.
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(This comment removed by me)
Feb 25, 2012 at 9:13 p.m.
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What a ridiculous story! Who cares?
Feb 25, 2012 at 8:56 p.m.
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This reminds me of something from The Onion.
Feb 25, 2012 at 8:03 p.m.
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Delta I agree with you 100% this world is , pause,I really can't answer that,maybe going to hell would fit?.
Feb 25, 2012 at 8 p.m.
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Jesus would be so honored in your sacrifice...after all the purpose of Lent is to volunteer to take on suffering as did Christ when he died for your sins. Wait, not using facebook really isn't suffering...but it makes the news. I love this world.
Feb 25, 2012 at 7:54 p.m.
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Why give up anything?
Feb 25, 2012 at 7:36 p.m.
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Sad commentary on the values of these people that they make such a big deal out of something as unimportant as social media. Who cares?
Feb 25, 2012 at 6:44 p.m.
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1st world problems....
Feb 25, 2012 at 6:36 p.m.
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Zzzzzzzzzzzz
Feb 25, 2012 at 6:23 p.m.
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Wow, slow news day.
Feb 25, 2012 at 6:09 p.m.
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thousands are doing this and have done this before, sorry but its nothing special
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