Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Life Lessons

When you think you've got it bad, just look around and you'll see someone who has it worse. When life has gotten you down, take a walk in someone else's shoes and you'll be glad to put your own back on.

I like to watch Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on Sunday nights. They usually rebuild the house of someone who has fallen on hard times, who has someone in the family with a serious illness, or someone who has been a hero to the community. Sometimes, the recipient is a combination of all of the above. Sunday's episode was no different.

The family had lost their home in a flood, but even worse is they also lost the mother's business. She's a photographer and gives the most precious gift to parents of preemies. She gives priceless memories of a brief moment in time when their critically ill baby is on the verge of death or has passed on. The pictures she gives - free of charge - to these parents can never replace the loss of their baby but it at least gives them a small ray of comfort when they look back upon that time. My younger sister's first child was stillborn at 32 weeks gestation and I believe something like this would have been a great comfort to her.

You never know when the gift of life will vanish. It could happen in an instant - one breath your baby is here and the next it's gone. Coming home from the hospital with empty arms - or, in the case of my sister, a flower - can never be forgotten and even another baby doesn't take away the ache for the one that was, and now is no more. The photographs she gives are done beautifully, tastefully, and with great respect and reverence for the family members.

Sears provided her with a complete new studio with the latest in cameras and equipment. The house that was built for them housed the studio and the crew also landscaped the yard so she'll have several outdoor vignettes so she'll be able to take other wonderful pictures.

This is one family that I truly believe deserves all they've recieved because they have given so much.

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