Take Pictures
This weekend, I attended the funeral of a young lady who went to our first home church here in Kentucky. She was only 17 years old, very active with the youth group, and LOVED God. Kaylee loved her very much and was really torn up about her death. The entire community has been torn up about her death. Prayer vigils brought news teams and hundreds of people.
This young lady touched the life of so many people. For the visitation and viewing, more than 800 people came. At the funeral, it was standing room only. I stood in the back, because I was alone with no children and didn’t want to take the seat of someone who might need it. As I stood there waiting for the service to begin, I watched the screen up in the front of the church as a Powerpoint presentation played in time to beautiful music. As the voice of Randy Travis singing Amazing Grace filled the auditorium, I watched as picture after picture after picture of this young lady’s life played out. Fun pictures, beautiful pictures, goofy pictures, serious pictures – it was apparent that if there was a camera around, the person taking the picture was attracted to her.
As I stood there, I got to thinking about my own children – because, how could you not with such tragedy? As I thought of them, I realized that I don’t take enough pictures. I always remember my camera, but I never remember to pull it out. There was a picture of this girl sitting on the lap of a Ronald McDonald statue and it made me laugh because that is something Kaylee would do. But, I asked myself, when Kaylee did something like that, would I take a picture of it?
I’m good about it at home. There’s usually a camera within reach of something silly happening, but once we’re out and about, that’s when I no longer take pictures. I don’t know why. It just doesn’t occur to me. I’m tempted at this point to buy a neck strap and just wear a camera around my neck at all times, constantly snapping shots of my children and my husband, making sure that someone around takes pictures of me.
Another thing is that Gregg hates having his picture taken. In fact, I think I am just about the only person he tolerates snapping his photograph, but even then his patience wears thin at times. He’ll smile his mischievous smile that says he’d rather be doing absolutely anything else rather than enduring the flash of the camera and ask, “Don’t you think you have enough pictures of me?”
No. I don’t. I want a million more. Of you, of us, of the kids, of our family.
Do that for yourself. Go take pictures of your kids. Wrap your arms around your husband’s neck and take a picture of the two of you. Hand the camera over to someone sitting next to you in the restaurant and have him take a picture of you and your family.
Do it so that you have something wonderful and fun, something that will make you smile and remember that day or that picnic or that trip. Don’t make it so that some time in the future you wish you had more pictures. Do this one thing for you now, so that your kids can show their grandchildren how amazing life was way back then.
Hallee you are a wonderful person – and you are exactly right!! My husband ALSO hates having his picture taken… but he at the same time he knows we NEED those pictures for while he is away… and we also need to have them as memories to show our children and grandchildren…
I think this is a WONDERFUL idea! And perhaps, after reading this, Gregg may have a little more perspective on the issue… :)
So true! I take so many pictures but lately not as many of just the kids being kids so I am reminding myself to do it. Have you thought about doing a 365 project? You have to take a picture a day and gets you in the habit of taking pictures.
i unfortunately learned this lesson after my dad passed 3 yrs ago. I realized I had very few pictures of him to show my boys so I have since taken WAY too many pictures and try to get myself in some as well…although I’m usually behind the camera. Because sometimes life happens and I want there to be pictures to look back on. I even force my mom to get her picture taken and she also doesn’t like it.
I take TOO MANY pictures! My problem is that there are never any pictures of me!
thanks Hallee! I take pics ALL the time, but I have very few of me with my kids. Probably because my husband hates it when i hand over the camera for him to take them LOL I normally do have a camera strapped around my neck, so then he doesn’t want to touch it!