Photos are a little gift from the past

I’m glad I grew up before cell phones were so much of a thing. I think the pressure of having every moment, good or bad, recorded for the world to see would be too much.

I already have a blooper reel, in my mind, of all the less-than-smart things I did as a kid. Sort of like having a personal “Ridiculousness” of missteps, trips, and fails.

I’m not a fan of having my own photo taken to begin with, especially when it’s for something goofy.

Growing up, I would turn out my grandmothers’ jewelry boxes on my bed, and sort through the pieces and remember stories attached to the different treasures. I would do the same with photos.

It was magical to pick up the photographs and stare into the faces of my ancestors and retell their stories.

For those I didn’t know, I would wonder about them. What were they like? What were their dreams? And I’d wonder if there were more photos? Surely there had to be more.

But those photographs are such treasures, especially when some of the people in them are no longer here.

I have photos of family that I’ve never met, but their stories are so dear to me. We can learn a lot from those who’ve gone before us, those who light a path for us. What were their lives like? What did they experience? What would they tell us?

I am grateful for the photographs that pop up, whether on social media or in a cookbook or as a bookmark in something I’m reading. They’re a little gift, a heavenly hug for me.

I like to think that when I see a photo that way, my ancestors are smiling down on me. Maybe they’re surrounding me for that moment, wrapping me in all of our stories woven together by the years and power and strength.

And I suppose there’s a small lesson in this for me as well. Instead of cringing about having my photo taken, I should just smile. Years later, I will be one of the faces smiling at a younger generation, wondering who we were and wondering about our stories.

Patti Dobson writes about faith for The Eastern New Mexico News and Quay County Sun. Contact her at:

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