A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items in front of him.
When class began, wordlessly, he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks about 2 inches in diameter.
He then asked the students if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.
So the professor picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.
He shook the jar lightly and the pebbles rolled into the open areas between the rocks.
He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The students laughed as the professor picked up a box of sand and
poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
"Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this is your life.
The rocks are the important things-
Your family, your partner, your health, your children-
anything that is so important to you that you would be devastated if it were lost.
"The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car.
The sand is everything else.
The small stuff.
"If you put the sand into the jar first,
there is no room for the
pebbles or the rocks.
pebbles or the rocks.
The same goes for your life.
If you spend
all your energy and time on the small stuff,
all your energy and time on the small stuff,
you will never have
room for the things that are important to you.
room for the things that are important to you.
"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play with your children.
Play with your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your
partner out dancing.
partner out dancing.
There will always be time to go to work, clean
the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal.
the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal.
"Take care of the rocks first-
the things that really matter.
Set your priorities.
The rest is just sand."
I have been so richly blessed this year to work with many families.
I enjoy meeting families and learning their dynamic.
The one thing that jumped out to me about
Tiffany + Jay was how very deeply they love one another.
Their daughter Jayla is truly the light in their eyes.
They can't get enough of her.
Could you?
I mean, look at those eyes.
And that incredible smile.
Each year I shoot Jayla and each year I am enchanted.
Truly enchanted.
Tiffany + Jay, I love your family.
I am so thankful you have such a big love.
May it continue to grow.
You embody the story above.
You have your priorities straight and it shows.
31 comments:
Beautiful shots!
Now, that is one BEAUTIFUL family if I've ever seen one! Jayla is a ray of sunshine...and you can tell there's a lot of LOVE goin' round. You captured it perfectly! Love the story, too...oh, how true it is!
precious, precious family.
That kid is AWESOME.
What a treat for you to have the honor of capturing moments for sweet families...and how sweet that you try to see the dynamics that make each and every family who they are.
I love that story!!! But what I love even more??? that little face with that HUGE smile. So adorable....you did good Becky!!!
Oh my, oh my, oh my!!!
I think this is your best work yet Becky.
What a gorgeous family. The love just oozes out of them.
I love the Professor's story too. How true. If the small stuff consumes there really is no room for anything else.
Well said.
Love coming here and learning from such a talented woman.
This story has long been a favorite of mine, but these beautiful photos made it a hundred percent more powerful.
What a lovely family!
=D
Wow, you captured some priceless expressions!! Wowwww! If I were them, I would want those photos and that story on my wall (I mean the one that separates the rooms in my home) exactly like you did here. How are you gonna do THAT????
Such a great story, wonderful models and beautiful photography!
there you go again, Becky - making us all fall in love with the people in front of your camera ... these pictures are so great because you caught the LOVE. you caught it BIG. and then coupled it with the perfect story. :-)
What a great lesson! Proves the point about no sweating the small stuff for sure. If only I could implement so easily. :)
These pictures are just stunning!! Amazing! Their smile are beyond contagious!
What a beautiful family! When that precious, little girl smiles she SMILES with every fiber of her being!
They do look like a couple in deep true love. Jayla is so photogenic. How old is she? She seems like she was easy going during the photo session.
That's the cutest little girl ever!
Great pics as usual :)
Amazing pictures. Beautiful family.
I love love the analogy. My mom actually did that very thing for a Sunday school lesson once. It was very effective. :)
She is so stinking cute! Those are great family shots. As always, very impressed!
These are beautiful and I love the story you posted today. It is all about the rocks :)
I do love that story, gives me the chills every time I see it somewhere because it IS so true. :-)
Beautiful photos of a beautiful family - great work! :-)
Love all of those great smiles! Such a beautiful family.
Beautiful post! Photos and words fitted so well together.
What a beautiful family!
Delicious, sweet ... Beautiful portraits ... Nice pictures.
Beautiful shots, beautiful family, beautiful post! Ai and who is this joker of a guy posting an unwanted comment here?
Love the analogy and your photographs. You have a wonderful way of capturing love.
Beautiful photos! I love the story. It's so true!
What a beautiful family! Jayla is precious, just precious! And how wonderful to hear of their big love. I can so see it through your photos Becky. Beautiful work!!
Beautiful family. I can actually feel the love.
Becky, you have a way to captivate your reader/watcher through your photos of course but also what you choose to write about those photos. I get drawn in every time.....and that is so good!
What an adorable family! And that smile on Jayla is infectious!
so much beauty is captured here ... WOW!
Those are great pictures!
oh my goodness. beautiful beautiful family---and that sweet little girl's smile just makes me happy!
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