The holiday season is upon us and as you gather with friends and family, I want to encourage you to enjoy each moment and take the picture.
Actually, take ALL the pictures. The holiday pajamas photos. The random selfies. The silly faces. Cooking together in the kitchen. Watching movies. Opening presents and playing games. Get photos of everyone, doing everything.
When my dad passed away, one of the (many) things that was challenging was finding pictures of him. He didn’t like taking pictures, and due to various life circumstances, we were unable to locate the ones we did remember having. Until recently, I only had one photo in my possession of me with my dad and a few others that had been saved on my phone.
The pain of his sudden death was compounded by the fact that I had almost no physical representation that he existed. And as we get older, the way we remember things changes. Photos help to align what’s in our minds with what’s in our hearts.
So friends, take the pictures. All of them. Because the moments don’t last, but the memories and the photos do.
Until next time- be encouraged! Peace and blessings!
“Now death where is your sting Our resurrected King has rendered you defeated
Forever, He is glorified Forever, He is lifted high Forever, He is risen He is alive He is alive”
I talk to him frequently now. That wasn’t always the case. After years of being caught in the crossfire as he battled addictions of various kinds, I made the decision to let go of the weight prior to getting married. As I was on the brink of beginning my new life, I knew that it was important to deal with the issues that plagued me and to make clean breaks where necessary.
It was a tough decision, but when you watch someone you know struggle and wallow in the depths of addiction for years, I knew that my behavior had to change. I could no longer be a partial enabler to destructive behavior.
So, I made my break.
It hurt.
I cried. I prayed. I believed.
I cried. I prayed. I believed.
I had gotten to the point where my prayer was not for our relationship to be reconciled, but for him to be delivered and come to know Jesus. What good is reconciliation on this end, if we spend eternity apart?
And then, last November just days prior to leaving on an anniversary getaway with Preacherman, I got a phone call. The phone call that you don’t want to get. The phone call that changes everything.
Something had happened to him. There wasn’t a definitive answer as to what. But after a few more phone calls, it became clear that we needed to be there.
And so we went. Uncertain of what we might see. Unsure of what we might hear. We went in faith, believing that this would be the point of no return; from whence his life would be changed.
When you hit bottom, it’s a long way up.
But he’s climbing. God answered our prayers that this time would be different. And when I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago, a few days shy of his birthday, he told me that he’s been clean for 8 months.
8 months and counting. After battling some form of addiction for the last 17 years, 8 months clean is amazing. God has done a wonderful, transformative work; not just in his life, but in our relationship.
I included Kari Jobe’s “Forever” lyrics at the top because I have yet to identify a better description of what has taken place in his life. Through the power of God, death has been defeated in his life.
I have enjoyed many things in this life, but nothing compares to watching someone go from death to life. To God be the glory for the things He has done.
life beyond the well... 