Thanksgiving is this week and amid the cooking, consuming, snoring, and pick-up football games, will be the opportunity to immortalize the whole family in film and potentially create your own Awkward Family Photo. Woohoo!
Family: We are born and our parents (at least one) are present. We are fresh and new from the Creator and a world of opportunity is available to us. And then our first day passes and the effects of a weary world have already begun.
I work with a lot of people who have strong, safe, and supportive family ties; it's one of the reasons why I came to work for Adventures.
I also work with folks who don't. Our family photos may look great, but the back story makes it very awkward. And isolating. And ripe for healing. We only wished we had a family goofy and connected enough to proudly snap a ridiculous photo.
One of my greatest regrets is that my kiddos and I have yet to take a family photo-just the three of us. There are boxes of pictures of Madi, Kenan, Madi and Kenan, etc, but maybe one or two of the three of us – and none recent. This is on my very short bucket list.
What's so important about a family photo? It's the Family! These photos reveal a collection of faces and heartbeats that connect you to a history of shared blood and stories. Family photos remind us that somebody has your back. That your sister will make your chocolate birthday cake and slap gummy bears on it because she loves you. Or a a mum who would pray for you and hold your hand when your first best friend found another best friend at the lunch table. A brother who is more worried about you giving blood than the cancer that is consuming him. Folks who know you and love you no matter what shenanigans you pull.
Family loves you, they see purpose and beauty in you, and they will go the distance with you because though it's not about you nor about them – it's about all of "us" making it fully alive and mostly intact to the finish line.
I am fortunate to have great kids, a sister who has always cheered me on, an Atlanta family who loves me despite a wearying awkwardness (hopefully temporary), and friends who are family.
I also have a family that crosses borders and time zones – we share the same hope and mystery and sky. I imagine that a family photo might be taken one day that includes generations of awkward siblings and stories. I can't wait. I'll be the one a little left of center with pink hair, pink high tops, a goofy look on my face, and my fingers making antennae over the head of the person next to me…Peter maybe. Peter, the Rock of Jesus' 12 best buddies – we'll be holding up the ADHD section.
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The song "Beautiful Things" has been waking me up lately. This morning, when I curled up and prayed for a few weighty doodahs, it kept repeating after each silent place. Please visit it and Enjoy.
"Beautiful Things" by Gungor, http://vimeo.com/32157180
Did you see this video? http://emilytuttle.theworldrace.org/?filename=you-are-making-me-new
It begs to be included in this post.
what a beautiful post!! you are so right…we’ve accumulated so many pictures of son & dad or son & mom but none of the three of us. we finally took some family photos and i’m so glad we did!! this will be my first thanksgiving without my mom. so important to treasure the time we have 🙂
i created a collection of jewelry who’s profits will be donated to three charitable organizations, adventures in missions being one. would you please spread the word?
http://bonhomiejewelry.com/faith.html