“Hey Dad!” I called out just before trying to capture an unguarded Christmas photo of my father, Joseph Brinson Sr., yesterday. The Hobbs family spent our day at my parents' house and had a wonderful time full of love, good food, and plenty of laughs.
Snap!
I smiled, pleased with myself.
I was on a mission to get Christmas pictures of everybody at the house.
I thought I could check Dad off the list until I previewed the actual image in the photo viewing window.
As you can see above, I completely missed the top half of Dad’s face, caught the top right side of Mom's, and won myself the distinguished top spot on “The World’s Worst Photographs” list.
My mom, dad, and I chuckled when we saw that picture. So I decided to embarrass myself further by sharing it with my loving Daily Cup family to highlight my nonexistent photography skills. I figured it would be the perfect complement to a blog post I wrote last week telling you all about how taking pictures is not my strong suit.
Thankfully, I am not the designated family photographer.
I just snap for fun so I don't ruin any really significant moments that need to be documented with photographs. That way, there's no pressure on my part. And when I take a really lousy shot like the half-a-dad photo, I can be lighthearted and share a hearty laugh about it.
Anyway, after that, I kept snapping away. And my sweet husband Kenya and other family members didn't mind posing for me.
And you know what?
When I sat down to look at some of the images I captured, there were a few--and I do mean a few-- really good ones in the bunch.
In the above picture, my husband Kenya switched the camera to black and white mode for me and helped me snap this. I love this shot!
Here's Kenya again flashing a smile for me. Neither of us knew if my unassisted shot would turn out alright, but it did!
Even if none of the shots had turned out well, I had a blast being uninhibited and in the moment. I didn't worry about how things would turn out. And because of that, the day and all of its activities, was wonderful.
What would happen if we all spent a lot less time worrying about how things would turn out?
This is the question I want every member of my Daily Cup family to ponder as we resolve together to let worry go. Release anxiety and stress about how things will all work out and just be in the moment. Live and enjoy yourself.
Again, don't worry.
Just be.
That's how you experience the joy of life, because at the end of the day, does worrying change anything at all?
No, it doesn't.
And to remind you to cast worry aside, I'm stirring a question found in Matthew 6:27 NIV into your cup of inspiration today. It says, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"
When you drink down the contents of your cup today, you'll see that worrying is useless. Not only can it not add a single hour to your life, but it can take away precious moments from your life. If you let worry take over, instead of living the abundant life Christ died to give us all, you'll allow stress, anxiety, and depression to rob you of precious moments.
Don't let that happen to you.
Be resolved to live fully, freely, and joyfully.
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10 NIV)
Lord, thank You for the blessing of life You have given me to enjoy. Everyday that I wake up, I know it is a gift from You. So please help me not to allow worry or anxiety to steal away any precious moments from me. Instead, open my eyes to all the beauty and simple pleasures with which You have filled my life. Today, I thank You for them all! In Jesus' name, Amen.
By the way, above is a picture of Mom (Annie) and Dad (Joseph Sr.) with their full faces on display. :-)
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
