The news was disturbing. What did they mean I
needed a new publicity photo? Hadn't I just had a new photo taken-when was
it-ten years ago? The bigger factor to consider was that I only had one chin in
the ten year old picture. Since I hit 40 I'd discovered an additional chin every
year or so. Now if I raise my head to reduce the number of chins, I get a photo
that’s more of an “up the nose” shot. Now there’s an attractive look. I figured
I'd use the one-chin photo until Jesus comes again (and gives me my glorified,
uni-chinned body).
Besides, don't these people understand how difficult it is to plan that one good
hair and clothes day of the quarter to land on the same day as the photo shoot?
Everyone knows you that before a photo shoot you have to endure three weeks of
salad. Only salad. And a good hair day? That’s more complicated to predict a
solar flare. You never know when the perfect, photo-worthy hair day is going to
pop up.
I reluctantly agreed to have the new photo made anyway, even though I cheated
for two and a half of the three salad weeks. I knew it wasn't going to be easy
when the day started with a hairdo that reminded me a little of Einstein’s. Oh
well, at least I'll look smart, I thought.
The photographer asked chatty questions about my family as she arranged my
shoulders this way, my head that way. She put my right arm in, I put my right
arm out, but at least I fought off the urge to shake it all about.
When I mentioned my five kids the chipper lady tried to offer a compliment:
“Wow, you look pretty good for a person who’s had five kids.” What did that
mean? Could she just have easily said something like, “Wow you don't look half
bad for a person who’s been plastered by a giant cement truck?”
I made a mental note. Next time I have to get a new photo made I'm taking a
friend along for moral support. I have friends who could've taken this girl (in
the most loving, Christian way, I'm sure). It’s always good to have a friend in
your corner.
If you're experiencing a bit of a lean friendship time, let me encourage you to
invest some time in developing one or two. Proverbs 15:17 says, “Better a meal
of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.” I think
that means that a photo shoot with no friends can be compared to three weeks of
salad, but having a friend along is better than an all-you-can-eat buffet with a
build-your-own sundae bar.
Everyone needs a good friend. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than
one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will
lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls for he has no
one to help him up.”
Good friendships don't develop without work. Everyone who wants to have a good
friend must become a good friend. We need to learn to love others with the
unselfish, self-sacrificing love of Christ. Jesus said, “My command is this:
Love each other as I have loved you” (John 15:12).
We become a good friend to another when want the best for that person, even if
it means we're called to sacrifice our own needs and desires. Romans 12:10
instructs to “Honor one another above yourselves.” We're instructed to love with
a Jesus kind of grace and with his kind of humility and patience. Ephesians 4:2
says, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in
love.”
“Bearing with one another in love” means being a loyal friend and learning to
repeatedly forgive. Colossians 3:13 tells us to “Bear with each other and
forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” And Proverbs 17:17says, “A true friend is
always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.”(TLB)
We need to develop “photographic memories” regarding our friends’ needs, yet
keep the ability to snip up offences, forgiving without reservation, without
even hanging onto the negatives.
As for my publicity photo, let’s just say I'm not exactly ecstatic over the
negatives on that one either. And I'll probably be living with them for another
ten years.
Rhonda Rhea rrhea@juno.com "Let the peace of
Christ rule in your hearts" Colossians 3:15 Radio personality, humor columnist,
inspirational humor author--CHECK OUT THE LATEST, *HIGH HEELS IN HIGH PLACES* at
www.revellbooks.com/highheelsinhighplacesemail/highheels.html SIGN UP FOR
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