Do y’all remember Polaroid cameras and pictures?
When you used a Polaroid camera/film, the picture would come out blank and you – well at least I – would shake it to develop the picture. Often times though, I would shake too vigorously and the picture would get screwed up. The colors would run, or part of it would be distorted. The best developing would happen if I’d just set the picture down and let it be.
Well, I was thinking today about the pictures I’ve had of my life. I had the picture in my head that I would be a high school english teacher. I had a picture in my head of weekly dinner out with my parents and sibling. I had a picture in my head of what my family would look and be like. Those pictures have changed.
I teach elementary school kids about Jesus.
I live too far away from my parents and siblings to go out to eat with them.
My family includes a husband who travels for work and 4 kids – mine, ours and someone else’s.
I never pictured any of that.
Here I am, at a point in my life, where the latest picture I had envisioned is again changing. I don’t know what that new picture will look like. I supposed I’m standing here, with the Polaroid in my hand and it’s still undeveloped. I refuse to shake this one.
Instead, I’ll let the Holy Spirit do the shaking. I’ll let God do the developing. His pictures always turn out way better than mine do anyway.
Rev. Kris Mares 
AWESOME! Thank you so much…..think I won’t shake mine either. All the changes going on in my life right now are shaking kind of things. 2 daughters graduating, one getting married. Seeming like TOO MANY changes at one time. But then I am reminded… God has PERFECT timing….just like that polaroid picture developing at just the right time.
This is phenomenal and speaks volumes. Thanks for sharing from your heart. Your realness moves me and inspires me, Kris. ♥
Reen~
Kris,
Thank you for being so real with sharing your deep feelings about life, decisions, blessings, doubt and–most of all–for sharing your faith with us. Blue’s tears of joy on Easter Sunday and today at her shower were so precious and such evidence of how she is growing into a wonderful, christian young lady.
Thank you and Racer for saying “yes” to God at just the right time–His time.
Love in Christ,
Regenia
kris, Aweseome. God has blessed me so much by placing you in my life. I am grateful for that. I am blessed to be able to call you a friend. Wow, the picture God is developing in my life right now isn’t one I would have ever imagined for myself either. I am trying to follow the lead of the holy spirit in my life right now and I am wondering what my picture will look like once developed. He is taking me to places and doing things that have taken me far beyond my comfort zone. I am anxious and fearful at the same time to see what beauty my photo will develop in to.
Thank you for a beautiful example.
karen