They say a picture is worth a thousand words… So what words come to mind when you see the image above? Who are these two people? Why are they smiling? What was happening when this picture was taken? Sometimes the story you create in your mind is way better than the reality. If the story you create brings you joy or puts a smile on your face, YAY, but for this image… I would challenge you to read the truth behind it and then ask yourself a few questions. 1) What would I have done? 2) How would I have felt? 3) Will I change now that I know the answers to #1 and #2.
I asked myself those questions and I was hit with some pretty hard truths. So let me share the story and then I will share my answers.
This gorgeous lady in pink is Lecia. Lecia was one of my roommates during my trip to Santa Barbara in February. Her and her sister Julie are two of the most genuine people I have ever met. They LOVE people. I could see that through their interactions with the hundreds of photographers that were at this convention. They took the time to talk, listen, share, and LOVE on people who needed it, and those that didn’t know they did. I admired them. I wished I could reach people the way that they did.
On the last day of the conference we did an impromptu photo session with Lecia. She got all dolled up in this amazing pink gown and we went for a walk along the coast. Along the way we stopped for a few shots and this building. There was nothing special about it, it just offered some neat lighting. While we were posing her this man (pictured) walked by. We didn’t pay any attention as there are A LOT of homeless people in the area. Sadly, you tend to get used to it. A few moments later this man appeared again with these flowers he had picked. He walked up to Lecia, handed them to her, and said “congratulations on your wedding.” Honestly, the thoughts running through my mind was “omg he’s crazy! what the heck”. I thought for sure Lecia was feeling the same way. I knew if it were me I would say thank you and then continue to ignore him and go about my business. I though that is what anyone like me would do. However, that is NOT what Lecia did. Lecia smiled, said “Thank you so much” (which by the smile on that man’s face – would have been enough) and he started to walk away –  she then said “Do you want to take a picture with me?” I WISH I had the whits about me to have taken THAT picture. I am not sure what meant more to him, that he got to stand next to and touch this beautiful woman – and she asked him to – or that he was being NOTICED and LOVED ON. That one moment – seemingly so insignificant – impacted me more than probably any singular event during that whole conference. Who knows, maybe I am blowing this experience for him WAY out of proportion but I really don’t think I am. So often we see video’s of homeless people not suffering because they don’t have a home or a shower, but because they are unnoticed and unloved. As people who HAVE things and work for things we tend to have this idea that if they are in that position they did it to themselves. They made bad decision or are lazy. Either way, they deserve it. Well, that may be true but are they any less deserving of love? I mean really. Think about that. There is always going to be someone better off in some way than you. Does that make you any less deserving of their love – or love in general?
Lecia didn’t give this man money or food or a shelter. She gave him her time, her attention, her touch, and her concern. This picture was taken as he was walking away for the second time… Look at the smile on his face!! It MATTERED to him. He felt important and cared about. If he had chose to interact with me would he have walked away feeling like that? Sadly, the answer is no. I was taught a valuable lesson that day. One I won’t forget.
For most of us there are 2 types of love. There is an easy love and a hard love. Easy love is loving on people who you are comfortable with… people in the same social standing… people in the same income bracket… people with the same personality as you. Hard love is loving on people who may not smell that great because they haven’t been able to shower in weeks… People who have no money, no home, no family… people who are harsh and crass and tend to put people off… For too few of us there are people like Lecia and Julie – where there is only one love. The love of Christ. The love that doesn’t see money, opportunity, dirt, personality, denomination, political preference, their past… Just a person who needs love no matter what. That is the love we are all called to show each other. A higher love.
I was challenged. I thought I did love people but measured against this I was found to be lacking. I made the decision to change this about myself. I know now that I tend to give love based on what I feel they are worth – and that is wrong. The person I made the decision to model my life after – Christ – doesn’t show biased love. We are all un-deserving but HE has made us worthy.
Thank you Lecia and Julie for showing me Christ’s love. For showing me I needed to fix this about myself. I am so thankful for our time together and that you came into my life! XOXO

Check out these chicks and their amazing talent!

http://www.leciamcdermott.com/

http://www.julie-story.com/