Fast Forward
There is a family picture that hangs over the mantle in our living room.
I love this picture.
It is a black and white editorial style photo of my family.
Daniel is 9.
CoCo is 6.
We are walking on the beach, toward the camera, with our eyes and faces lifted up...
looking into our future.
Below the picture, on top of the mantle, sit two plaques.
The first reads "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams, LIVE the life you imagined" while the other reads "Paradise FOUND".
While I walk past this place in my home every day, sometimes I just have to sit and stare at it.
That portrait was taken 3 years ago and I just have to be reminded of all that has happened since then.
My kids have grown and lots of life has happened.
Celebrations...
struggles...
prayers...
praises...
LOTS OF LIFE...
and it all seems to be happening in fast forward.
So some days I just have to take a moment and sit.
Stare.
Remember.
Thank God for where we have been, what we have been through, and the promise of the future that is yet to be.
Some days I find myself laughing and crying at the same time while other days all I can do is be thankful for the blessing that is my family.
It never fails that, when a guest or someone new sees it for the first time, their first comment is "I LOVE that picture!".
It is always a conversation starter about what it means to me and what it represents and what I feel we are called to do in this life.
To me it is a reflection of Philippians 3:13-14 "...
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus".
The plaque of the Thoreau quote is a reminder of the confidence I can have of the promises I have been given through His word and the "Paradise FOUND" sign is...
well...
my daily reminder that "all I have needed, HIS hand has provided".
Needless to say, a lot of intentional thought has gone into this space - these are the things that are most precious to me.
Some days "forgetting what is behind" is easier said than done.
Sometimes "pressing on" feels like trying to walk through quicksand.
On those days...
I just take a moment to sit and stare.
I am reminded of His goodness and grace and mercy.
I remember the hymns of my youth and the scriptures I have memorized through the years.
Then I get up, dry my eyes, and start pressing on.
But first, I give thanks for that moment where I can just sit and be still and be reminded.
Life happens in fast forward these days.
Make sure to hit the "pause" button every once in a while.
"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
" Psalm 119:105
I love this picture.
It is a black and white editorial style photo of my family.
Daniel is 9.
CoCo is 6.
We are walking on the beach, toward the camera, with our eyes and faces lifted up...
looking into our future.
Below the picture, on top of the mantle, sit two plaques.
The first reads "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams, LIVE the life you imagined" while the other reads "Paradise FOUND".
While I walk past this place in my home every day, sometimes I just have to sit and stare at it.
That portrait was taken 3 years ago and I just have to be reminded of all that has happened since then.
My kids have grown and lots of life has happened.
Celebrations...
struggles...
prayers...
praises...
LOTS OF LIFE...
and it all seems to be happening in fast forward.
So some days I just have to take a moment and sit.
Stare.
Remember.
Thank God for where we have been, what we have been through, and the promise of the future that is yet to be.
Some days I find myself laughing and crying at the same time while other days all I can do is be thankful for the blessing that is my family.
It never fails that, when a guest or someone new sees it for the first time, their first comment is "I LOVE that picture!".
It is always a conversation starter about what it means to me and what it represents and what I feel we are called to do in this life.
To me it is a reflection of Philippians 3:13-14 "...
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus".
The plaque of the Thoreau quote is a reminder of the confidence I can have of the promises I have been given through His word and the "Paradise FOUND" sign is...
well...
my daily reminder that "all I have needed, HIS hand has provided".
Needless to say, a lot of intentional thought has gone into this space - these are the things that are most precious to me.
Some days "forgetting what is behind" is easier said than done.
Sometimes "pressing on" feels like trying to walk through quicksand.
On those days...
I just take a moment to sit and stare.
I am reminded of His goodness and grace and mercy.
I remember the hymns of my youth and the scriptures I have memorized through the years.
Then I get up, dry my eyes, and start pressing on.
But first, I give thanks for that moment where I can just sit and be still and be reminded.
Life happens in fast forward these days.
Make sure to hit the "pause" button every once in a while.
"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
" Psalm 119:105
Source...