Tag Archives: Kodak moment

Remembering the day

 

 

P1020820As different as we all are, one common denominator seems to exist: we all like photos. We take photos to capture a moment in time, a reunion, a celebration, or some other momentous occasion. Stitched together, these photos tell part of the story of our lives. Here, Marcia and I are preparing to enjoy a delicious Korean Snowflake Sherbet while celebrating a reunion with our youngest son Michael and his girlfriend Mia (Jeon Eun Gi) in South Korea. While the moment has passed and we are again thousands of miles apart, we will remember this moment with fondness. Even this one photo will stir up memories of many other enjoyable moments shared together during this trip.

 

If you want to honor someone you meet, ask to see their family photos. I remember when Nada, my Croatian housekeeper while I was at Mercy Hospital for two months, first commented on my display of family photos. When I asked if she had family photos, she eagerly ran to her locker to retrieve her purse so she could show me her family photos from her country. Though she spoke little English (and I spoke NO Croatian) a friendship bloomed…over a few photos.

 

Before I was medically retired, I used to post a small sign at eye level on the door of my office. I’d see it every time I left my office and gave it special notice when I left for the night. The sign simply read, “Capture the Kodak Moment.”  A throw back to the years when Kodak was king of photography, it reminded me to reflect on the value of the day that had just passed. It prompted me to take a moment to “take a photo” of the lessons I wanted to learn or something for which to give thanks. The intent of the cue was to make sure that the day would be remembered, not wasted.

 

Journaling these moments also helps to cement them into our memory. It is well-known that repeating something aloud helps you to remember it. Writing this down doubles your chance of being able to recall it later. Taking a (real or mental) picture of the moment will further embed the moment in your memory.  In this way you can amplify the impact of morning devotions by reading them aloud, writing down a few of the thoughts, and revisiting them later in the day adding your personal reflections on how your devotions impacted your day.

 

Minutes turn into hours and hours flow into days; days pass by into an endless stream of weeks and months and years. Don’t miss the opportunity to capture the ‘Kodak moments’ of your life and take note of the impact of God’s work in your life.

 

Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you.” Deuteronomy 32:7