The Christmas Picture

Last updated on: August 22, 2014 at 3:53 pm by Rebecca Frech

The Christmas Picture 2014-08-22T15:53:38-05:00 Rebecca Frech

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Have you ever tried to take a Christmas photo of your own five children? There are reasons that there are professional photographers, and many reasons that I am not one of them.

I take pretty nice photos, the candid and artistic kind, but I can’t get all five of my children to look at me and show something approximating a smile all at the same time. I know because I’ve tried. I’ve tried on many occasions at all times of day. I’ve dragged them outside when the sun is just peeking over the horizon and the day is new. I’ve taken pictures when the noonday sun illuminates all the world around us. I’ve shot them when the children are all curled up in a quiet moment in the house. I hate every one I’ve taken.

What is a mom to do four weeks to Christmas, on a tight budget that doesn’t include professionally photographed Christmas cards, and a huge list of relatives who will be disappointed if they don’t get a picture this year?

Is it that I haven’t captured that elusive, and I fear fictional, perfect moment when the stars align and the children look exactly the way I imagine they will? Or is it that I have set my standard of what is acceptable too high? All I want are images which show how lovely our mob is and not make them cringe at their imagination of our lives. I worry about what other people think of us, and more truly what they think of the choices we have made. I have one chance every year to change the minds of the nay-sayers and this year I’m falling down on the job.

I have heard all of the trite sayings about paying no attention to the opinions of other people, but the truth is that deep down we all do. There is not one of us who really welcome derision and scorn. We all want a measure of approval for the way in which we lead our lives, even those of us who are counter-cultural. Maybe especially those of us who are counter-cultural. We live so far outside the boundaries of what is “normal” for the rest of society that it can make us question if we really are as strange as other people think us to be.

It’s asking a lot of one photograph, and I know it. I don’t care. I just want to shoot that one which makes people sigh and get misty-eyed and wish they could be at my house on Christmas morning because that must be a fun time. And it is, it really is.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

November 30, 2008

Running

Next Post

December 1, 2008 Yup, She Said It

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What fruit of the Spirit is described as "patience" or "longsuffering"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Anger Patience Apathy Pride