One of the worst effects social media has on us is the temptation to constantly perform. Newsfeeds turn almost every part of our lives—our families, our work, our personal thoughts, our meals, even our workouts—into potential content. The holidays only make this temptation worse. 

Jesus told his followers to do their good deeds in secret: 

When you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you. … when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 

Our lives are a performance, but only for an audience of One, who indwells us and makes our obedience possible. We don’t need to constantly exhibit our wins to others—the perfect Thanksgiving meal, the perfect Christmas experience, or the perfect parenting moments. Paul’s advice to “aspire to live quietly” still applies in this age of social media.