This is my family.
I am so very proud of them all, and this photo makes me fill with happiness simply by looking at it.
Smug eh?
I bet you’re thinking she’s only sharing that to show off. But you’re wrong.
I have the words of a Stevie Wonder song in my head If it’s Magic.
Something about posing for pictures with a smile.
I used to hate having my photograph taken but I think it was because I didn’t like myself much and could only see my imperfections – both inner and outer. But when I think of the words to this song I want my children to have a photo and look at it and smile. I don’t want to be missing from the photograph when I am missing from their lives. In the photo are my sons and their wives and my daughter and her husband, my three grandchildren. All smiling, all having fun. It is a moment in time, frozen forever.
But smiles don’t last and they mask the sadness, struggles, and disappointments we all experience.
I feel so very blessed that my children have found good partners to share their lives with. When asked how many children he had my dad would say three daughters and three sons. He never said son-in-laws. I feel the same. I now have three sons and three daughters.
Not that they haven’t had their own hardships.
We’ve had our fair share, like any other family, of illness, accidents, disappointments, and sadnesses – perhaps not as much as others – but there will always be times to smile. Always.
And the three little grandchildren didn’t enter into this world with ease – they had to come out fighting. It will stand them in good stead. Life isn’t easy, not all of the time, for anyone – but there is much to treasure.
One more little girl will be in the next family photo – our latest blessing.
A picture can tell so many stories, can say so many things – and hide so many more.
This one says Happy.
When I’m feeling lost I look at this photo and remember what I have.
Do you have a special photo that makes you happy or makes you sad?
Why not use it to start a story of your own? Or write it down so that your loved ones can know how special that photo was to you. It doesn’t have to be long and complicated, short and sweet will do the trick.