Each year around October we have our family photos taken. My mother did this as I grew up and now, I carry on the tradition for my family. I always enjoy seeing how much my family changes each year. As I hung our recent family portrait on the wall, a thought occurred to me, we looked absolutely perfect. Every hair was in place, our outfits coordinated exceptionally well, everyone was smiling, holding hands, and loving each other. Even the dogs sat faultlessly, as if posing for Purina dog chow. Our family looked flawless. Oh, but if pictures could talk, what a story they would tell! The before and after look nothing like the portrait that graces our wall.
By the time the photo session is over, the dogs are running wild, Eva is sobbing and Chuck has already removed his new polo and is now sporting his favorite t-shirt. We portray in a snapshot what real life looks nothing like. Those smiling faces hanging on the wall tell nothing of the long days and short attitudes. The perfectly positioned print shows no indication of the over- grown yard, in dire need of lawn care or the supper left burning on the stove while you frantically chase down a naked toddler, now peeing in the backyard. No one sees the play-dough that lies smashed on the kitchen table waiting for you to scrape it clean, or the little hand prints left all over the walls. There is a shower you desperately need but can’t seem to grasp it. No one sees the text message apology you owe your husband but send, by mistake, to your pastor!
These are the real moments that are never captured in the frame. I like to tell people; we are a family under construction but building on the right foundation. Seeing our errors and making the necessary changes. We are learning to work together to navigate life’s many challenges.
Last year, for our anniversary, Chuck and I spent a quiet evening at home enjoying his famous spaghetti. Our love story is a lot like, Lady and the Tramp. I fell in love with him over a bowl full of spaghetti and he still knows, it is the way to my heart. Once supper was finished, we found ourselves sitting on the back porch looking through our old family albums. As we flipped the pages of our album we found, the years were showing us things the days never did. We saw laughter and tears, trials and triumphs. It was a story that, at the time, had been unwritten. Life just takes a little longer to develop than one snapshot. I heard it said somewhere “A Christian with the greatest life is a Christian with the greatest memories.”
Hang your pictures and enjoy the imperfections. God will fine tune, as you continue together and what a beautiful picture He will create.
Be kind and affectionate toward one another with brotherly love, in honor, giving preference to one another. Romans 12:3
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