It is fun to open photo albums seeing all the memories come to life. Amid its pages, a person might find freeze frames of the first, wobbly steps taken toward mom, puckered lips blowing out candles, a dribbling ball in midair, a slinging fishing line headed toward the water, an open mouth with fried chicken on its way inside, a winner holding his trophy, or the precious smiles posing with a loved one for the final time.

A freeze-frame photo is a type of still image. This particular kind of picture holds an action in place, freeze framing it, to preserve the moment. These shots are generally used for a purpose. These freeze frames often unleash the background story that floods our minds, producing grins, laughs, or sometimes tears. 

Freeze Frame Memories

God created us with the ability to freeze frame memories in our minds as well. While I am an extremely visual person, I believe most have the capability to close our eyes and create a home movie of a past event. Seeing my daughters ride bikes with their hair blowing in the wind brings cheer to my empty-nesting heart. What a blessing memories can be to us in needed times. 

However, life does not just consist of happy moments. In fact, life is made of mountains and valleys, highs and lows. At times, I have captured some painful freeze frames in my mind and held them too tightly. Opening the envelope to discover my devastating SAT scores in 1985 seemed to shatter my college dreams, or the doctor sharing I had breast cancer. Those pictures and movies have the potential to smother a person in bitterness and harness him in pain. If not careful, a person can allow these negative freeze frames to leave him trapped in a dark room with the walls closing in. How does the person not get stuck in the muck of these moments?

Replacing Negatives

God allows us to replace our scarred freeze frames with ones that regenerate us. We can tear the negatives into pieces by praying and asking God to replace them. Allowing God to divert my thoughts from the letter that stated my horrible scores to the kind counselor who showed me an alternate route toward my dream of becoming a teacher. And the doctor’s words informing me that I had cancer? God reminds me of my camping trip. I sat on the scratchy, nylon-woven chair and watched the fluffy clouds drift in the big, blue sky. God gave me the gift of pondering how He was in control of everything. He gave me this peace for almost an hour that April morning. . . only five days before. 

Future Freeze Frames

God even gives us the ability to create freeze frames that have not actually happened…our imagination. While we often lessen this ability as we develop past childhood, these imagined freeze frames are helpful. During my mom’s two year journey toward death, I often created pictures of us walking over a big bridge. While her steps were only allowed to travel one-way, I took great comfort in this visual. What a treasure to walk with her as she traveled onward to her final home with God. 

The most beautiful future freeze frame is when Christ receives us home. We can imagine that day, when we too will walk with him in eternity, just as Mom is doing now.

(Previously published in Good News Magazine Dalton edition Aug. 2021)