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Not long ago, I crossed a milestone I never expected when I first started my music career: I reached 5,000 followers on Facebook.

For some, that number might not seem particularly impressive. In a world of influencers and viral videos, 5,000 can feel small. But for me, it’s a deeply meaningful marker—and it represents far more than just a number.

Let me explain.

I joined Facebook reluctantly, back when MySpace was the thing. Social media felt like a noisy, overwhelming place and I didn’t want to add another thing to my plate. But a young friend of mine said something I’ll never forget:

“Frances, this is how my generation communicates now.”

That was all I needed to hear.

I had always cared about connecting with younger generations through my music and message, so I asked her to build me a Facebook page. From there, I began posting little pieces of my journey: photos from concerts, thoughts about songs, behind-the-scenes glimpses of my creative life.

And slowly, the crowd grew.

The day Facebook saved me

Fast forward to 2020. COVID hit. Concerts were canceled. The world was shut down.

And Facebook became a lifeline.

I started a little online series called Hit Pause—a place where people could take a breath, share some music, and feel a sense of connection again. Through that series, I met new people, sold merchandise, and continued to get my music out into the world—even from my own living room.

It wasn’t glamorous, but it was real.

And it was enough.

Why 5,000 matters on Facebook

Here’s something not everyone knows: Facebook limits personal profiles to 5,000 friends. That means when you hit that threshold, you’ve essentially “maxed out” your capacity for direct friend connections.

I’ve now reached that point—and it’s both humbling and surreal.

But what makes it especially meaningful is this: every single follower, every new connection, has come from years of faithful, authentic sharing. One post, one song, one story at a time.

Which brings me to something I often teach when I speak:

The Little Boy’s Lunch

There’s a story in the Bible about a little boy who brought his lunch—five loaves and two fish—to hear Jesus teach. When the crowd grew hungry, Jesus took that small meal, blessed it, and used it to feed over 5,000 people.

I often wonder: did the boy pack a lunch every day? Did he ever imagine his ordinary lunch would be part of something miraculous?

The next day, he likely got up and packed it again. And probably didn’t feed 5,000. But he kept showing up. He kept bringing what he had.

That’s the way I see this Facebook milestone.

For years, I’ve been “packing my lunch.” Writing songs, telling stories, launching concerts and albums, sending emails like this one. And every so often, there’s a moment where something bigger happens—where it feels like a miracle.

It’s more than a number—it’s a marker of connection, trust, and longevity. I’m not backed by a record label or a social media team. Every follower, every share, every comment has come from years of showing up—through concerts, blogs, livestreams, emails, and conversations.

When you’re an independent artist, you’re not just creating art—you’re also your own booking agent, publicist, event planner, and fundraiser. So to see 5,000 people choose to follow the journey means the world. It tells me the “lunches” I’ve been packing day after day are somehow feeding hearts, offering hope, and maybe even inspiring someone else to keep packing theirs, too

5,000 followers isn’t just a number.

It’s a reminder: keep packing your lunch.

Keep bringing what you have.

You never know when it will feed a crowd.

If you’ve been part of this journey—thank you.

Whether you’re brand new or have been with me since the MySpace days, I’m deeply grateful you’re here.

If you’d like to stay connected in even deeper ways, here are two music pages where I share more behind-the-scenes content:

🎹 Frances Drost Music Page – This is where I post updates about my solo work: concerts, songwriting insights, stories behind the music, and upcoming events.

🎼 Double Keyed – This is my classical crossover duo with oboist Kirstin Myers. We’re currently preparing a new Christmas album with the London Symphony Orchestra (yes, that LSO!). On this page, we share glimpses of our creative process, upcoming performances, and the journey to Abbey Road Studios.

Come follow along—we’d love to have you with us for the ride.

• Frances Drost Music Page
• Double Keyed

Thanks for being part of the miracle.