I hesitated a beat too long when my daughter asked if wanted a picture from the front porch as we were about to drive away from my two college students. I hope my pause wasn’t so long that the four faces looking at me thought I didn’t cherish this moment with them in it.
I have five kids, and one son had already left for the day. The photo wouldn’t be complete.
You would think that after 15 years of deployments, family and friends living far away, TADs, weeks-long work-ups, and kids graduating one by one that I would be accustomed to a beloved face missing from a photo or two.
Maybe I’m a slow learner. Or maybe I treasure the times we’re all together that I forget I can embrace the moment right in front of me, even when someone I love isn’t there.
So many beautiful moments happen every day, even when the details aren’t perfect. God knows your heart is longing for everyone to be there, and He will tenderly care for that ache even while you are giving the gift of your presence to the presents right in front of you now.
As we drove away, 1 mile down, 800 more to go, I gazed at the photo 4 out of 5 smiling faces, so thankful I had captured the image of that moment.
So take the picture. Rejoice in what is. Savor this moment with these people. And receive the gift of God’s own presence with you right now as you are in this place. I think He Himself is treasuring this moment with you, even if the details aren’t perfect.