*Not Pictured

Benjamin is learning how to roar like a dinosaur. We had the greatest playtime in our front yard, roaring, exploring and breaking sticks. It was one of those blissful mom moments you want to hold on to forever. I snapped some selfies so I could savor these sweet times together. 

I will always treasure the simplicity and sweetness of those photos, but there were some other aspects of the morning that were not pictured. Peanut butter smears everywhere. The bowl of plain, white rice I let him eat for lunch in personal defeat. Nine cups of cold coffee. And all of the scuh-reeeeeeming. It’s usually the moments not pictured where the greatest soul shaping happens. I learn patience and perseverance. I disciple my son and shape his emotional intelligence. And sometimes I fall completely apart and remember how much I need my Jesus. 

 When the parts of our lives that are not pictured become little cracks in our thoughts about who we “should” be, we invite our enemy to come in and kill, steal and destroy the gifts God has given us. It’s great to capture happy memories. Just don’t let the moments not pictured become secret places for shame, condemnation or guilt to creep in. We all have meltdowns. We all carb-load occasionally. And we all need Jesus. 

With every beautif photo you take and every cherished memory you make, take a minute to praise God for the moments not pictured that have made you who you are today.