Picture Perfect In God’s Eyes

You are our God for all ages,
and you endure through all generations.
Inspired by Psalm 145:13

When our eldest grandchild was born, I began to organize our photos of her and the rest of us. Though I’d done the same for our sons, it had been quite a while since I’d started a new album. This time around, rather than storing that new album in a drawer or cabinet, I placed it on our coffee table. I wanted easy and ongoing access to this new adventure in our lives.

Four more grandchildren and a few memorable trips enticed me to keep this “album thing” going. Nine volumes later, I find that my thinking in this regard was and continues to be absolutely sound. When visiting, our grandchildren and their parents leaf through these albums often. Numerous conversations regarding the places we’ve been, the kids’ growth spurts and a variety of special occasions have resulted. During these stay-in-place days, my husband and I have enjoyed those albums more than ever. The smiles which accompany all of this indicate that my photo album collection truly is a celebration of who we are and where we have been.

You know, I think that my family album experiences mirror God’s love for you and me. In spite of this world’s distractions and that challenging gift of our free will, we all manage to engage in good deeds far more often than we realize. Each one certainly elicits a smile from our Benevolent Creator. Though my photo albums don’t chronicle our difficult family times, God’s albums do. God looks upon these events with loving concern. More importantly, God remains with us through it all, especially during the most difficult times.

Generous God, thank you for making our memories with us.

©2020 Mary Penich – All Rights Reserved

Time To Celebrate!

Your love endures through all generations.
From Psalm 145:13

My husband and I will celebrate our wedding anniversary this week. I use the word “celebrate” loosely as our celebratory activities will be limited to the confines of our home. This is a good thing as our children and grandchildren will be able to FaceTime their greetings any time throughout the day. As for Mike and me, we’ll enjoy a special dinner without having to make a reservation.

We’ll also celebrate by revisiting our wedding day. I’ve prepared by taking out our wedding album and placing it on the coffee table in the living room. Though we won’t go out to dance, we can certainly dance through the memories stored in that precious book of photos. I admit that I find it very difficult to leave any book unopened. So it was that I poured over that album a few days early…

It wasn’t long before I ran for some tissues. With every passing page, tears flowed more freely. So many loved ones were with us that day! Some are making their way through this pandemic with us. Many have passed on from this life to the next. Either way, every one in those photos has left a significant mark on my life; on Mike’s life, too! Our children and grandchildren continue to benefit from the love these good people showered upon Mike and me so long ago and for decades afterward…

Though none of our loved ones are perfect, they all add richness to our lives as only they can. This week, I’m going to celebrate each one in my life with a smile and a prayer, especially Mike!

Thank you, God, for the people you have given me to love in this life and for those who so generously love me.

©2020 Mary Penich – All Rights Reserved

Precious and Loved

Your children will be like olive branches who enrich your table.
From Psalm 128:3

Whenever our grandchildren visit, they spend a good deal of time thumbing through the photo albums stacked on our coffee table. These albums feature all of them from the time of their births. Of course, the rest of us are also preserved for posterity in this smattering of birthday, Christmas and other special occasion photos. Though kids enjoy looking at all of us, they seem especially amazed by the way they’ve changed over the years. So are we! As that metamorphosis continues, so will our love for each of them!

The other day, I decided to peruse my husband’s and my photo history. After enjoying our grandchild-filled albums, I opened our wedding album. As I poured over the decades-old pictures, tears threatened. On almost every page, I found Mike and me in our twenty-something prime. In those same photos, I found many a loved one who has passed on from this life. Just as Mike and I have had a significant impact upon one another, each of these special people left a significant mark on us. The love they showered upon us so long ago is tangible even today in most of what Mike and I do and say.

You know, my husband and I aren’t perfect. Nor are our sons and their families and the countless others who’ve touched our lives. Still, we love them dearly and we hope we’ve added to the richness of their lives just as they’ve added to our life together. The most important gift we give to one another is our love, especially when it seems least deserved. It is then that our love matters most of all!

Thank you, God, for the people you have given me to love in this life and for those who so generously love me in return.

©2019 Mary Penich – All Rights Reserved

Uniquely Good and Holy

He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant
and erring, for he himself is beset by weakness.
Hebrews 5:2

When our sons, daughters-in-law and grandkids left the other day, I smiled. We’d shared a wonderful time and I couldn’t help feeling blessed by this family of mine. With that, I excused myself from cleaning and retired to my recliner. From that vantage point, I have a wonderful view of our backyard. Though tiny flecks of snow beckoned my attention, I turned in the opposite direction to feast my eyes. My husband had just updated our family picture wall with the kids’ newest photos. I couldn’t help reliving the day we’d shared as I looked from frame to frame. After acknowledging to our generous God that Mike and I truly are blessed, I left my comfy chair to visit another wall.

This second collection includes photos from Mike’s and my childhood. Many of those pictured have passed. They include our own parents and grandparents, several aunts and uncles and my brother and sister. Mike and I shared much of our lives with these loved ones. Though I know that they happily abide in another place, I missed their physical presence.

You know, though our sons look like brothers, each brings a unique presence to our family. Though I would be proud to call both of my daughters-in-law my own, each brings unique gifts to the mix as well. The gaggle of grandchildren who grace us do so as only they can. Every member of my family and a lifetime of friends have touched my life as no one else has or ever will. Each one, with foibles and imperfections intact, can never be replaced. They’ve added something to my life and to life on this earth which no one else will replicate or replace.

This New Year 2019, I pray that we all thrive in spite of our imperfections and that we generously share our gifts with everyone we meet along the way. I assure you, your presence is a gift and your contribution to the rest of us is worth the effort!

Thank you, dear God, for the good people who brighten our lives.

©2019 Mary Penich – All Rights Reserved

A Hint of Christmas

Be glad and rejoice for your reward
is great in heaven.
From Matthew 5:12

Our younger daughter-in-law recently asked about our family wall of pictures. I secretly hope that this means we’ll receive new pictures of our grandsons for Christmas. Because our older son’s wife knows the drill, I’m certain she has our granddaughters’ pictures ready for us. I’m smiling in anticipation! At the same time, I’m drawn to the pictures on that wall which will never be replaced. The great-grandparents, a great-aunt and a great-uncle have all moved on to the afterlife. Though I know that they are better than ever in their new digs, memories of their Christmases with us fill me up…

Every year, our large family gathered to celebrate this favorite of all days. This year, I’m struck hard by the number of family members I’ve lost. My mom and my dad, my husband’s parents, my brother and my sister left us earlier than any of us expected. When we gathered for their wakes and funerals, our conversations included not only our favorite reminiscing, but also our projections regarding their current activities at home with God. Though we regretted each loss, we also celebrated the blessings we found in each of them. We also wished them well in eternity! After all, every day is Christmas there!

When I left that wall of photos to get on with the tasks at hand, I whispered a prayer of gratitude for my family. Our sons, their wives and our grandchildren have brought joy beyond expectation to my husband and me. In the process, they’ve given us a taste of heaven on earth. I almost want to write, “Merry Christmas!” Indeed, I will. Merry Christmas!

Generous God, thank you for the gift of our loved ones and the gift of eternal life with you.

©2018 Mary Penich – All Rights Reserved

Say Cheese!

Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
Psalm 145:13

When my first grandchild was born, I organized our photos of her and the rest of us from Day 1. Some family members and friends acknowledged my new role as “Grandma” by gifting me with photo albums and I put each one to immediate use. Rather than storing them away, I displayed the albums on our coffee table for easy access. I didn’t want to forget a bit of this new adventure.

Four additional grandchildren and a few memorable trips have enticed me to keep this “album thing” going. Thirteen volumes later, I find that my thinking in this regard is sound. When visiting, our grandchildren and their respective parents look through these albums often. Numerous conversations regarding the places we’ve been, the kids’ growth spurts and a variety of special occasions result. The smiles that accompany all of this indicate that my photo album collection is truly a celebration of who we are and where we have been.

Though I have no photographic evidence, I’m certain that my family and I haven’t been alone in all of this. God has been with us every step and click of the camera along the way.

Generous God, thank you for the memories and for the wonderful family who build them with me.

©2018 Mary Penich – All Rights Reserved