Old Pictures and New Joy

(This was a post I wrote several years ago, but it seemed a timely reminder)

Recently, I have discovered the technology of scanning photographs. I’ve been going through my old albums and scanning pictures into the computer. Many of them have been subsequently uploaded to FACEBOOK. It’s been a real treat for me because I tend to be a little nostalgic and romantic. Going through photos of our dating years and the early years of our marriage has been great.

It was interesting how it stirred up feelings in me. I guess it’s like the campfires we used to have while camping. We always had a great big fire at night, letting it die down before turning in for the night. Then in the morning beneath the ash in the fire pit, we could find hot coals, and we would start our breakfast fire with those. We could use one match to get the fire going and- if we were careful- could keep that same fire burning throughout the week.

In our memories and photo albums, many of those feelings from years gone by are still there. A couple I was talking with recently allowed me to share their story anonymously. They have been going through a difficult time together. They have been married for many years, but they are having difficulty adjusting to some of the changes in their lives. “At times,” one stated, “it seems that our relationship is dead.” They agreed that they could think of times in the past when they were happier. Having just started going through my old pictures I asked them to do that to and shared my idea about stirring up the old “campfire coals” of our relationships. So far so good.

I’m not saying that this is a fix-all for relationship problems…far from it. But I do believe that part of what happens in marriages and relationships is that we forget the basic fabric of our connections. We focus on just what we are experiencing at that moment. The pain of the now covers the joy of what has been.

So, grab that poker stick and stir up the ashes…there are coals under there that long to be reignited. Who knows…perhaps you’ll be enjoying “s’mores” later in your relationship cause you have worked to keep the fire burning.

Blessings,
Dave

I’m not sure what was happening in my head in this pic.