Why There’s Never Too Much TMI

TMI = Too Much Information.

You’ve seen it in texts and maybe even typed it yourself (I know I have WAY too many times): “This is TMI, but…” Or maybe you were listening to someone and thought, “Wow, that is TMI…”

I found myself saying that in a conversation recently and I couldn’t help but want to retract what I had just said. Not the information I shared about myself, but the need to say, “Maybe that’s TMI…”

Why do we feel the need to say that? It’s a simple acronym, but it’s a 3-letter acronym we hide behind. Or maybe we just choose to not share what’s really on our hearts, even at all. But it’s what continues to separate us and our relationship with others. And this is where I struggle.

I can’t help but question, why is there such a thing as too much information? In a world that is thirsty for authentic, genuine, and real relationships, why do we hesitate to share? Why do we stay closed up, for fear of what? What others might think? How we might look if we say it? Who they might tell? How we might be perceived? The judgement we might feel afterwards?

If you know me, you know that I’m fairly open. Maybe to a fault? I don’t know. I suppose I never asked anyone and maybe I don’t want to know the answer :). So maybe I’ll never ask! But even though I pretty much speak what I think, well, always, I still find myself wanting to hide behind the acronym TMI. But this is where it’s to a fault.

I believe to find true, lasting, real, genuine, and authentic relationships in life, we have to move past the fear. We have to move past what others might think. Yep, there are trust issues that will arise. But we all know in life, who is trustworthy and who is not. And yet we have to allow people TO prove that trust. We have to ignore the TMI idea and just say it! If you want someone to know the true you, you have to be willing to let the true you out. TMI and all. I know when times are hard, stressful, chaotic, and burdensome, we may not want to burden others with our griefs and pains. But I believe this is not how we are to live as Christians. For pete’s sake, look at David! He wrote Psalm upon Psalm, which are filled with cries out to God, while being reflections and wrestlings within his own heart. FOR THE WORLD TO READ. God deemed it needed for us to relate to this type of writing because He knew the type of people we can be sometimes. Closed up, tight-lipped, for fear of what others might think. Shoot, look at the book of Lamentations! Enough said.

I’ll admit. Because Dan and I are so open, Dan lost his job as a youth pastor almost 8 years ago, due to being so open about the gestational carrier process. One would argue that it maybe wasn’t worth it, but it was in sharing about the process and the struggles, God led us to a much healthier place in life. We were not meant to be at that church anymore and God literally had to pluck us out, to get out. But to this day, I have ZERO regrets because on the other side of it all, has been blessing upon blessing. All in the name of sharing TMI. I’m sure you have plenty of stories of being burned in the past too. I’ve got plenty more as well. But I have found the richness I’ve gained in other relationships, makes it well worth it!

We’ve all sat across the table from someone who just “spilled the beans” on what was truly going on in their lives. How did that make you feel? Did it make you want to share the longings of your heart? It changes not only the relationship, but also changes you.

My friend, I desire for our world to be one where we are able to just be ourselves, share our struggles, our triumphs, and in the end, give Him all the glory. For when we share “TMI”, it’s then we reach a different level of friendship. It’s then we are allowing God to use the trials and triumphs to proclaim His glory and grace. We can always talk about the weather. But what if, WHAT IF, we chose to share what’s truly on our hearts? In turn, you will find relationships saturated with a deepness you’ve never felt before. For this is what I believe we were created to for. So, grab a cup of coffee, and start sharing the TRUE you.