I realized this week that family is the strongest unit in all the world. That none of us could be or do or even exist without family. That many of us make sacrifices every day to serve and love and simply be present for people we call family. That hours spent scrubbing dishes and cleaning floors, rocking a sick baby back to sleep, taking deep breaths when a teething toddler is throwing a temper-tantrum, driving kids to school and sports, making lunches and prepping dinner – yes, all these things we do for our family. And, no it’s not easy. It’s hard and trying and tiring. And, if we can all just be honest for a minute it’s pretty thankless. Of course none of us would ever say we do anything for our family to receive a thank you, but at the same time we all do things that no one will ever notice unless of course it doesn’t get done. And, we do it without thinking too much about it. We don’t have to. Loving our family through action is a no-brainer because love is the driving force.
So, as they were curled up on the bed together winding down from the first part of their day and prepping the kids for nap time I had an overwhelming realization: This is what God intended when he created families.
It’s the little moments that don’t typically get talked about, blogged about or even caught on film. But, it’s those types of moments that tell our next generation they are loved and valued and worthy. It’s those moments that tell our next generation that the world isn’t always an easy place to exist, but they will always be safe and cared for and loved at home. It’s those types of moments that tell our next generation that they are capable of changing our world for the better.
Media tells us every single day that our world is going to hell in a hand basket. I don’t know if they’re right or they’re wrong, but I do know there is all sorts of Godly strength and perseverance, beauty and progress found in homes around the world and those are the families I want to make more photographs of.
Have a blessed weekend (loving your family) …
jc
p.s. Corey is working so ridiculously much right now I think I’m feeling a bit nostalgic for my own family to be together. (Translation: being the wife of a doctor 9-years into his 11-years of training is really really hard.)
p.p.s. I’m planning to share more pictures from this session next week.