If you told me five years ago that I would write what I’m about to write, I would not have believed you. I would have laughed at you. I might have even punched you.

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As I review 2007 in my mind and consider all the things for which I am thankful, it is a particular person who tops my list. But before I tell you who it is, I need to provide just a little bit of the back-story.

I grew up in a Christian home. While I’m oversimplifying a bit, that meant that we prayed before every meal, went to church every Sunday, occasionally read the Bible as a family and did not watch bad movies (at least not really bad movies). I went to our church’s youth group most weeks because it was fun and there were cute girls there every once in awhile. I was the rebel in my family, although I didn’t really get into that much trouble. Believe me, it’s not that I didn’t try to get into trouble; it’s just that my dad was a police officer and my mom filled various positions within the educational system over the years. Between the two of them, they knew everyone. And I do mean everyone! If I did something, they knew about it before I got home. But, alas, I am digressing just a bit…

About the time I entered junior high school, my dad decided to go to seminary to become a pastor. And that is when things started to go south, at least between him and me. As my dad progressed through seminary, he accepted additional responsibilities in our church and in our community. From the outside, my dad looked like a saint. But I saw him at home and he certainly was not a saint.

Please do not get me wrong. My dad was not awful. He just wasn’t the same person at home that he was in the eye of the public. I thought my dad was a hypocrite because he didn’t always practice what he preached. His “old self” was still very much a part of him. And that was hard for me to accept. While this was largely an excuse, I decided that if my dad was a real Christian, I didn’t want to be a real Christian. Sure, I was grateful for the assurance I had of going to Heaven when I die (I asked Jesus to be my savior when I was about eight years old). However, I had little intention of living my life for Christ.

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They say that time has a way of changing things. But I don’t think time actually changes a thing. It certainly doesn’t heal hurt and pain. At best, time just dulls them. In some cases time actually amplifies them. But God…God can change things. He can restore broken relationships. He can heal years of hurt, pain, anger and bitterness. He can make it enjoyable to be around someone who, at one point, you wished was not even a part of your life. God can change things. God does change things. And that’s exactly what He did between my dad and me.

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I am sure that you’ve guessed by now but just in case you haven’t, here it is. As I reflect on all the circumstances and events that surrounded my life over the past year, I am most thankful for my dad. So Dad, when you read this (and I know you will), thank you for forgiving me for all the awful things I said to you and about you while growing up. Thank you for being available and interested in spending time with my family and me now.

Thank you God for moving my dad and me past our past, for healing our relationship, for doing what only You can do.

We had high expectations since we had seen Rashmi’s previous photography. But even with such high expecations, we knew that it was truly special the instant we saw it. Yet like most great things, it gets better with time. Much, much better.

I’m referring to the picture that serves figuratively as our family’s current theme and literally as the background image for this website.

We have the same picture on 20″x30″ canvas hanging above the fire place in our living room. Every now and then, I sit on the sofa to look at that picture. I love staring at that picture! God has a tendency to reassure, move and speak to me through it. I’m sure that God spoke to me while I was looking at it a few days ago; “Neither you nor Lana could actually see that picture when Rashmi took it. But I saw it. Isn’t it amazing?”

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How many times do I stroll through life and think I see what’s going on around me yet come to realize that I am way off? How often am I so sure that something is the way I think it is, the way I see it or the way I imagine it? How many times am I dead wrong?

Something bigger and better is going on in us, through us and all around us. Yet I am too blind to see most of it. Lord, give me eyes to see not just a beautiful picture but also the wonder and beauty of your whole creation surrounding me.

Heavenly Father, please help me to see as You see! (Psalm 146:8, Isaiah 42:16)