03/18/2021
“Her courage was her crown and she wore it like a queen.” ~Atticus
courage: the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. Valour is courage or bravery, especially in battle.
When I chose to work with high school seniors over 10 years ago, I didn’t realize how much I would learn from them! Perhaps the biggest lesson I’ve learned is what true courage looks like, not the kind that you muster up for an anticipated event, but the kind that it takes to wake up and be present in the random, often mundane, day-to-day moments.
I sit down with each senior before I ever lift my camera and ask them questions not just about what they envision for their senior pictures, but more importantly how they see themselves, what motivates them, what frustrates them, what they would do if they knew they couldn’t fail, and I listen.
I listen to not only what they say, but for the weighty pauses as they attempt to give me a tiny glimpse into their world. And sometimes it’s heavy.
I do not take lightly the privilege I have to celebrate these courageous warriors, even if only for a brief moment in time, to see them as they were created, with purpose and for a purpose, and perhaps even fan into flames a dream that they may have never spoken aloud.
Sweet Haley, thank you for reminding me again today, as you picked up your beautiful images, of my mission! You truly are one of these brave warriors and your entire day was a celebration of your journey!
Listening to your dreams and watching your eyes dance as you imagine what the Lord has in store for this next chapter of your story makes my heart dance! And while you may have looked like Cinderella as you were twirling in the fields, I glimpsed your Esther heart!
Helping you live out your special day and capture those precious moments as I witnessed you began to embrace your priceless worth is why I do what I do!
Thank you for entrusting me with your dreams and in turn helping me live out my own! I am proud of you Valiant Warrior!!!