Not Your Typical Five on Friday

I had a crazy experience earlier this week.  An experience that left me completely raw from emotion.  My boys saw me bawl out of utter shock and disbelief and the ordeal had Matt fuming from his head down to his toes.

The details aren’t important and won’t be shared, but the results of this experience are and will be.  I do, wholeheartedly, believe that if we don’t try to pull good out of a sour situation we are wasting valuable time and pain.  So, I figured I should share with you what I’ve come to really grasp about myself, though experiencing this unfortunate exchange…

1. I LOVE People.

Weird that this type of situation would bring about that conclusion, right?  Not really.  Why else would I be so saddened by it?  Because conversing, relating, and interacting with people is something I really love to do.  I cherish relationships that I have with others and get great enjoyment out of meeting new people and finding the connection and common ground that is inevitably there.  Whether you are my friend from high school or the check-out gal at Safeway, I love chatting with you .

I suppose I may be a bit naive with this, but I think that that enjoyment comes from my feeling that others appreciate kindness and relationships, too.  I believe that when you are kind to others, it helps their kindness shine.   And that is awesome.  And don’t we all try to be kind and honest and helpful and encouraging??

We are all image bearers of God and He has taught me that that dictates how I treat people.  So when I do that, and am not treated with the same respect, I suppose it surprises and disappoints and, well, hurts me.

I am extremely blessed to be surrounded by kind, loving people.  Both in my literal surroundings and the friends I have met online.  Because of that, I rarely face conflict and I now realize how incredibly fortunate I am because of that.  One amazing thing that has come out of this experience is feeling the amazing support of my true friends.  What a gift!

Bottom line:  I value life, I value others.  I will be honest with you and treat you respectfully and with joy.

2. I am VERY sensitive.

Likely, this has very much to do with my above points.  I think they go hand-in-hand.  But, how sensitive am I?  I STILL cry at the end of the movie Cars when Lighting pushes The King across the finish line.  I’ve seen the move 200+ times!

Touching, generous gestures absolutely move me.  I got choked up the other day when I watched Gage and Cooper’s best friend share his stickers with them.

Witnessing God’s miracles move me to tears, as well.  Seeing a baby born?  Watching deer graze through our field?  Watching a previously homeless person step foot into their newly built home?  Wow.  God is GOOD and I am super sensitive when it comes to that truth.

And, on the flip side, when I see unkind, unfair, unjust things happening, I am just as sensitive.  Just as emotional.  Regardless of who’s on the receiving end – me or a complete stranger.

I support what is right because I love God, I hurt over what is wrong because I love God.

3.  Being welcomed into your home to photograph your newborn is an honor.

I of course knew this already, but just wanted to say that the more and more this happens, the more I recognize the honor it is.  I remember having my three newborns.  It was an uneasy time!  So much uncertainty and newness, not to mention the pain and sleep-deprivation that goes right along side having a new baby.

So, to be brought into the midst of your newborn experience isn’t something I take lightly.  I tread quietly and respectfully.  I will not make anything more complicated for you than life already is.  My purpose is to capture amazing photos of your precious baby and while doing so, give you a break. 

And, I promise, to treat your newborn with the tenderness and care that I did my own.

4.  I want to LIVE by God’s word.

Again, totally NOT a new revelation, but this situation really drove this one home for me.  I don’t want to just talk about what God wants us to do or go to church so others think I follow Jesus.   I want to exemplify HIS word  in all that I do and say.  In good situations and in bad.  This is challenging and well, impossible, because we are all sinners.  But, it is an awesome goal, right?  Especially when we are faced with adversity.  Because, quite honestly, it is how we conduct ourselves in ‘challenging’ and ‘disappointing’ situations that truly shows who and what we worship.

To really work on this, I recognize that I need to curb my impulsiveness and my sensitivity.

5.  I need to have contracts signed prior to my photo sessions.

Lesson learned.

I’m moving on from this experience… at first I thought it would stop my business in its tracks, but like I said, I’m learning from it and am thankful for those lessons and the clarity it gave me.

And, to end… here are some photos of my boys…  

Thanks for reading. 

Enjoy your weekend!

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