This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24 NASB)
One of the movies I watch over and over again is “Just Married,” starring Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy. Maybe you’ve seen it. A young couple marries and then has the worst honeymoon ever–accidentally burning down a castle in Europe, sleeping in their rental car during a blizzard, even getting arrested!
Angry with each other and so disappointed at how their dream honeymoon turns out, they decide to divorce when they get home.
Sad about the demise of his marriage, Ashton’s character, Tom Leezak, visits with his dad. The conversation goes like this:
“Gonna tell me what you’re chewing on?” his dad asks.
“I just don’t know if love is enough anymore,” Tom replies. “I mean, even if Sarah and I do love each other…maybe we did need more time to get to know each other.”
“So, what you’re saying here is…you had a couple of bad days in Europe, and it’s over?” his dad replies. “Time to grow up, Tommy. Some days your mother and I loved each other. Other days we had to work at it. You never see the hard days in a photo album, but those are the ones that get you from one happy snapshot to the next.”
I love that last line because it’s so true. Looking through photographs from past vacations, honor days, field trips, sporting events, family reunions, birthday parties, weddings, holidays, baby showers and other life events always warms my heart because the photos are filled with happy, smiling, laughing, hugging, and sometimes downright goofy loved ones.
You rarely see photos of people crying, depressed or angry in photo albums or posted on someone’s Facebook page. No, even most of the candid shots usually ooze happiness.
It’s like the commercial says, those are the moments that we cherish and celebrate. But in reality, life isn’t always so happy. It isn’t always so full of “Kodak moments.” Sometimes, you have to hold onto the happy memories and stand strong on the Word of God to make it through until the next Kodak moment comes along.
We need to be mindful that every day is precious. And we need to thank God not only for the Kodak moments, but for the moments in between–when we grow, learn and become more appreciative of the snapshot-worthy moments to come.
Pray this with me: “Father, thank you for filling my life with family and friends, and thank you for all of the Kodak moments I’ve already experienced and for the ones still in my future. Help me to never take any of it for granted. I love you, God, and I am so thankful for another day to live and love. In the Mighty Name of Jesus, Amen.”
