It may not seem so, but this photo is indicative of a very important aspect of our life as a family. It is representative of the close relationship we have with our neighbors and good friends, the Zipps.
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The snow brings forth an image of something that is present all year long, just not visable to the naked eye - and that is the worn path between these two homes. It is a visual reminder of something that I take for granted - and that is the fact that they are there for us no matter what. They are family.
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If it were possible, you would also see footprints from my doorstep to my parents' house, from my heart to my Bible; you might see a cable attaching my boys to my person, and a string of hearts from my soul to my husband's.
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Sometimes it takes something as tangible as this to remind us that relationships rooted in love are the foundation of our time here on earth.
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Sometimes it takes something as tangible as this to remind us that relationships rooted in love are the foundation of our time here on earth.
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And this is not limited to the love you feel for someone close to you. Genuine love for others extends (or should extend) to those you simply interact with.
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A love for others should make us treat the cashier at Walmart just as genuinely as we would treat them were we to brush up next to them at church. A love for others should be what makes us hug and listen to a friend whom we may not exactly agree with at the moment. A love for others should make us simply want to make other people's days better, and not worse, after interacting with you - even for just a few moments.
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Three things will last forever - faith, hope, and love - and the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
So true. It is remarkable how powerful love is. When I was in Los Angeles last month tending to the family after the tragic death of father and son, one of the people who spoke at the visitation said, "My first conversation with Byron was 'Paper or plastic, Sir?'" She went on to say that every week when Byron came into the grocery he would come through her line, even if it meant waiting behind a dozen other people, just so he could tell she was loved and ask how she was doing.
ReplyDeleteEveryone who spoke about Byron that week said he always told them how much he loved them. I'm not talking about family, but neighbors, co-workers, clerks in the courtroom where he represented clients, etc. It was an encouragement and challenge to me to be more expressive in my care for others.
I just found you through the BD site and loved this post. What a beautiful photo to capture the depth of relationships.
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