PHOTOGRAPHS
Growing up I do recall having photos taken from time to time. As an adult I honestly have but a very small handful of photos from my childhood. Many of them were given to me by an Aunt who understood the meaning of being able to look back and remember a time when. She is the sister of my father, who passed away far too young in life. She held on to photos to hold on to a brother who she loved and lost.
The photos gave her a connection, even though they could not speak or tell the story, they offered a story all of their own. As I believe most photos do.
Having lost my dad at the age of five, the photos taken weren't abundant. My mother, who remarried many more times, moved around the country and journeyed on in life didn't feel the need to keep such "reminders". Not that she threw out all of the photos, but she did most of them. I have an understanding for that, not that I appreciate it on my own personal level, but I do get it. Honestly, do we want photos of all the people in our lives? Probably not.
My family knows when we go somewhere I'm going to take pictures. I'm going to bring my camera to their events, I'm going to ask to capture that memory and I'm going to smile and love them as I share it with others. Proud of who they are no matter what the situation or event. My family - well they fight it most of the time but I am putting on this screen right here right now, If I decided one day to not take photos - there would be hurt feelings because that is "what she does". Although kicking and screaming, who is the first to ask "can I see the pictures?" Those who kick and scream and pretend I'm embarrassing them and then I hear "Anotherrr?" yeah, another and then it's "okay fine get one with so and so". (and BIG SMILES)
I've not always liked to have my own photo taken and truth be told, I don't care so much for it myself. However, I do very much appreciate when I can look back and see the "then" and "now" in my life with my family and friends. Oh I've got some dandy photos of myself. I did grow up in the 80s with BIG PERM HAIR and I did experiment in the 90s with SHORT PIXIE CUTS and here in the present I struggle with THE SAME HAIR FOR YEARS. I've been heavy, I've been thin. I've had great skin and I've had better skin. I've had fashion moments that I look back on and can laugh at and I've had moments where I want to ask "Who let me out like that?". Memories, captured. Each photo telling a story all it's own. Holding upon a little piece of paper (or screen) all the moments shared in a day in one single capture.
He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Luke 10:2
With today's technology we take many photos and when I say we in general, I multiply that by ten thousand for myself personally! I am not one to Instagram my food, I don't go thatttt far! But it is a fun App. for capturing photos that bring feelings or emotions. I have plenty of silliness on my instagram app. and I have many more smiles. With camera phones, small cameras that take amazing photos and the increasingly fast pace of being able to share I do get sucked in to wanting just one more photo (I am that girl). I love my family, I adore my friends ~ having lost someone far too soon in life and having only a few photos to hold on to, I'm the girl who doesn't want to let THIS MOMENT slip by, because you never know when their moment, or my moment will be the last.
Today, in this moment ~ I am thankful for all of the moments I've captured through the lens of my camera and those who I share those moments with. PHOTOGRAPHS, capturing the moment forever.