Another Family Portrait

Our family came together again yesterday, (which is the reason for this poem) and, as is our tradition, we took a family portrait before everyone headed home. Why do we take so many family portraits….it’s quite simple to explain… because no matter how many family portraits we take…no two portraits are the same. Every time our family walks out and then back in through our front door we’ve all changed a little bit…from the portrait we took before. Sometimes those changes are obvious…the photo captures a singular time and space new clothes, new glasses, new hairstyles…is that another wrinkle on my face? Often, however, the changes are more subtle and only our heart is reawakened… to the metamorphosis each family member has experienced since the last portrait was taken. Which is why I pause as I look at each new family portrait…pausing is a must… It gives my eyes a chance to see the smiles…the changes… and my heart time to adjust. I imagine the reason we take so many family portraits so many times throughout the year is to remind everyone that whatever changes we go through… your family’s still here. Which is why when our family comes together… even for a little while…. there will be a moment… sometime in the evening…. when they’ll be asked to SMILE!