To me, there’s nothing more remarkable than getting to see the world through someone else’s eyes.
Sometimes we may be under the impression that we have to go all the way to Guatemala to do so. Or across the street to the neighborhood food pantry. Or to volunteer at MOPS or listen as a friend shares over soup at Panera. Those are effective, to be sure. But as I recently looked through a year’s worth of photos forgotten on my memory card, I discovered that we may not even need to leave the house to see the world in a whole new way.
Sometimes we just need to bend down until we reach someone else’s point of view. Around four feet or so does quite nicely at our house. That’s the angle I observed as I scrolled through moments I hadn’t been aware someone had captured. Between the two of them, my sons showed me what interests them. What they love. Where their attention is captivated. And what they care about.
{These photos are completely un-retouched. This is the world as they framed it.}
Did you see it? Beyond the laundry and the chaos and the well worn house? Did you see the four people who live in each other’s space and inhale each other’s joy. The family utterly at ease with one another. The comfortably broken in bed, chairs and relationships. The dependable milk bottles, teddy bears and toddler toes. The wonder of a box of toy cars.
Did you see it, Lisa-Jo?
Because I need to bottle this perspective and save it up for a rainy, frustrating day when I wonder if we’re the last grown ups on earth who still have never purchased a house. When I’m tired of battling the creative ways my boys concoct to stain the carpet and I’ve given up all hope of matching anything.
I need to remember to see the world from this vantage point.
Because from four feet up it looks pretty darn fantastic.
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I love the view that you took with this. It makes me soooo sad to know that I have deleted photos exactly like these from my children. The next time I come across these I will be sure to docuemnt them. They grow all to fast and I will be able to look back and see what they saw and the innocence.
Beth, I haven’t laughed so hard or enjoyed photos as much as when I discovered these. And there were many, many more – so random, so delightful, such a joy. They are quickly becoming my favorites. I may create a whole photo album one day just of the kids’ perspectives!
Oh, Lisa-Jo. Do you know the perspective YOU so often offer up in these words… this special place of yours? I am with Beth… I am going back to look at those mini-photographer masterpieces… viewing them with a new angle in a new light. My mama heart thanks you! Hugs! :)
Right back atcha – and these photos – they make a mama smile big when the mini photographers are tucked in tight at night :)
Something I know noticed, you are all smiling. Amazing that children always capture the good stuff! They are enjoying life!
Haha! I have so many of these on my phone! :) Why do kids always takes pictures of lamps? My kids also frequently take pictures of what they’re watching on TV. I love that you shared these. Makes for a fun Friday. And, boy, does your love for each other come through. That’s what I saw…and a house that comfortingly reminds me of my own. We are not as alone as we think we are.
I love the one of chin in hand! What a wonderful family life indeed! Wonderful, wonderful perspective! Kelly
I love this perspective, i find random pictures like this off my girls and they always fill me with joy. Even the pile of washing, thank you for sharing x
Oh there were LOTS of photos of piles of washing. LOTS :)
Love the “real” pictures, not retouched, not staged, just real. Very cool
This is fantastic Lisa Jo! I love this perspective. I need to get some batteries in our old camera so that the kids can us it whenever they want. How fun.
It’s obvious from the photos that love radiates throughout your household!
Oh, I love love love this! I have roughly 400 picture on my iPhone from my 3yo. People keep asking me why I let him do that, and it’s for this very reason – I love seeing how he captures his world! Thanks so much for sharing this. And I have to tell you, our carpet is just as stained, our beds are just as broken in, and we’ve been married 17 years and never owned a home. And you know what? It’s all good. :)
You just officially made my day!! :)
I have a post i the works called if you give a 7 year old a camera…
Love what they se and what they deem worthy of film!
AND FYI – my parents didn’t own a house til I was married and gone -never bothered me. Taught me to trust God right along with them…
Rest Easy Friend – He’s taking care of those earthly things too!
Love it.
us too! my carpet is dreadfully stained, my couch is well-loved(and it shows), and we have no plans to own a house. we also have a collection of photography from our mini-photographers. we bought our oldest a children’s camera for christmas two years ago. it was so fun watching her carefully set up her photos. but her camera was poor quality, so last year we bought her a much better one. she takes the most interesting pictures! once while on a road trip, she put her crocheted blanket over her head and then took pictures from under it. those were very interesting! thank you for sharing your children’s art with us. :)
AMEN!! What a great reminder!! While pressing in for Wisdom, I also need to just stop & smell the roses…or the sweet fragrance of my precious family!!
http://freeagentmommy.typepad.com/blog/2010/10/wisdom-the-hard-way.html
This is so unique Lisa-Jo. What a wonderful perspective. Their little eyes see with such innocence and real wisdom the things that really matter. I love this!
Oh, darling…that looks like:
LOVE….
And as for owning a house? Posh and nonsense! What was it that Solomon said? Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred” Proverbs 15:17…I think you might could rephrase that to ” better a rented home with love, than a mortgage filled with worry!” ;)
You are doing well. Its whats inside the house that makes it a home, not the name on the papers.
Ha! LOVE that verse! Gave me and the hubs a good old chuckle! Thanks for sharing it!
There is nothing like a child’s perspective…so profound in so many ways!
Oh my. LOVE THIS.
Wow. My heart!
<3
I love it when my kids grab the camera or video camera too. Sometimes they get shots I’d never get because I just didn’t look at something that way. And they have a great way of capturing a moment in such a different light than I would have.
Thanks, Rhonda, for sharing Proverbs 15:17. I needed that one.
We don’t own a home and don’t plan to for quite some time, if ever! (trusting God with that one!) I gave up all hope of matching anything when my five year old came out dressed for bed in: top half – transformers; bottom half – star wars. I guess he thought he had the best of both worlds!
Thank you for sharing your life. Your openness reminds me of Henri Nowen’s words from his book “Can You Drink the Cup?” It speaks of toasting to life and toasting means sharing with each other. That’s what you do: ?share and encourage.?
This is a crude poem a wrote in college, but your post reminded me of it:
http://bethstherapy.blogspot.com/2010/10/freely-freely.html