Sharing Firsts
Mother spent a few days in our hometown last week. As Ray and I headed west to pick her up on Labor Day, I asked him to stop about five minutes from our house. I had been to town already on Labor Day morning and was excited to see the first colors of fall. When Ray and I came to the spot on Monday afternoon, I was armed with my camera.
This bluff is beside the intersection of two state roads near our home. When Ray asked where I wanted to pull over, I replied that we could just stop at the end of the road we were on. Neither of us expected much traffic at that time of day on a holiday.
As it happened, four cars came up behind us in the brief time I was standing in the middle of the road behind our car. The first was a pick-up truck decorated just about as redneck as you ever see around here — which is quite often. Behind the wheel was a young man wondering if I had spotted a bald eagle. No, just the first fall colors, I told him.
Cars number two and three passed by me with curiosity, but not enough to ask me what in the world I was up to. Another young man was behind the wheel in car number four. He leaned his friendly face toward the passenger window and asked me point blank what I was photographing.
I always get excited when the leaves start to turn, but I don’t remember ever thinking of photographing them before. I have photographed other firsts though. You know, first crawls, first steps, and things like that.
One of the many wonderful blessings of teaching your children at home is all the firsts you get to experience — the first letters written, the first words read, the first excitement over whatever strikes a fancy, the first convictions about God.
For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you,
which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice,
and I am sure that it is in you as well.
2 Timothy 1:5
So many firsts are shared when mamas, daddies, and children spend time together.