When my family was young, we received a monthly magazine composed of stories of children and their families who lived in impoverished nations. I regularly tore out photos of the bright smiles that conveyed deep inner contentment and joy. Several of the images have withstood the test of time and moves, continuing to underscore integral lessons and reminders of a life of purpose and days well lived. One such photograph, that hangs in my laundry room, captured an African American woman glowing like she has just given birth to a baby. In her worn, unmanicured hands she holds a photo of her family. She fiercely smiles at the beaming members of varying ages, all dressed in mismatched clothing, reflecting their poverty. The photograph was the first her family had ever had the opportunity to have snapped.
As God would have it, the issue arrived in my mailbox at a time when we were scrambling to pull together the perfect coordinating outfits for a stressful, multigenerational family photo shoot. My irritation was rising and annoyance clear. Staring at that image provided me the chance to reset my thinking. Overwhelmed with the reality that photos are a gift meant to capture the moments, as well as, the quirks, imperfections, and unique beauty of our families, suddenly, matching outfits no longer mattered. 1 Peter 3:3-4 reminds us, “Your adornment should not be an external one: braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or dressing in fine clothes, but rather the hidden character of the heart, expressed in the imperishable beauty of a gentle and calm disposition, which is precious in the sight of God.” Feeling blessed to possess the means to have family photos snapped each year and to carry the technology to quickly snap impromptu group shots with our phones, my perspective changed. A first world problem, what to wear. A third world problem, never having been blessed with a family photo.
The article went on to explain how the featured African family cherished their photo and worked diligently to keep it safe from harm and damage. It was a treasure. Viewing my menagerie of family photos in a new light, perfectly matched clothing no longer took precedence. The blessing of the presence of the members of my family and the uniqueness of each shining though in my imperfect shots brings me joy. No longer anticipating the perfect Christmas card’s arrival, I cherish the ones that show some realness and expose the characters of individuals. “Every flower has its own created beauty, splendor of the rose, the lily’s whiteness does not deprive the violet of its scent nor lessen the daisy’s charm.” St. Therese of Lisieux. Embrace your reality and the individuality of your family.
“You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works!” Psalm 139:13-14
Call to Act: I encourage you at this busy, stressful time of the year to embrace the little moments and know that those pristine Christmas cards which arrive in the mail, well before Christmas, with the well-posed, perfectly matched members do not reflect the everyday. They reveal gargantuan efforts and possibly even bribing, shouting, tears, and arguing. I encourage you to be happy for them that they achieved this tremendous feat, but at the same time rummage through your own photos and embrace the quirky, chaotic photos that you have managed to capture. Hold tight to these wild years because these too will pass, just as all the others have, all too quickly. In ten years, you will look back, reflect, and ponder where your sassy 6-year-old went and why you did not enjoy it more. Embrace the season your family is in. Seize the joy. Perfection is not in the picture, nor achieved this side of heaven.
St. Veronica, pray for us that we can care for and love those in our care. Beg the Lord to allow us to cherish our family’s uniqueness and embrace the ups and downs of life, doing what we can to enjoy the everyday. Ask to Lord to remove the sin of comparison and instill in us joy and mercy. We ask this all in the name of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Saint Veronica
St. Veronica lived in the time of Our Lord. This compassionate woman was standing as Jesus passed by on the Way of the Cross. She offered him a cloth to wipe the sweat, blood, and tears from his face. On the cloth, was left the imprint of Jesus’ face. The cloth is housed in the Vatican at St. Peter’s. There several replicas of the original cloth, which became popular in the sixteenth century when the original was thought to have been destroyed in the Sack of Rome. Therefore, the cloth in Rome is possibly a replica, as no carbon dating or tests have been performed on it or the others in existence today. Veronica is not mentioned in the Bible, but through Catholic tradition and the Stations of the Cross we know of Veronica and her tremendous concern for Our Lord. We do not know when she was born or died. Learn more about her here: https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=1953
