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Wikipedia defines "A picture is worth a thousand words" as an English language adage. It refers to the notion that a complex idea can be conveyed with just a single picture; this picture gives its meaning or essence more effectively than a description.
From a social media standpoint, I would have to say yes! This seems to be the way the younger generation communicates. Kind of like my generation's connection/obsession with beepers! Let's be honest. Would you read my blog post if there were no pictures to draw your attention? One of my church brothers asked me, "So, what's up with all your pictures on Facebook?" Really! So that told me you only looked at the pictures and not the blog. That's why I saw the purpose for posting photos on the blog as a teaser to get you here; it's called Marketing 101! Gotcha!
Check out this website at https://phrasee.co/the-history-of-social-media-a-timeline/
As I prepared for this month's post, I paused to think about the significance behind each photoshoot I've done so far. Not that my life has been spectacular, but I knew that we present only the best and sometimes a counterfeit side of ourselves in this generation of social media.
"For [even the whole] creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God's sons to be made known [waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship]." (Romans 8:19 AMPC)
We can sometimes present an unrealistic view of our lives that makes it seem as if the life we've chosen to live (for me as a Christian) is an unattainable one; we must come to God already clean before He accepts us. This is so far from the truth! Many of us have had what I call "beauty marks" from life that aren't pretty on the surface that we sometimes hide from the world to make ourselves look as if "we have arrived" by the world/social media standards. I have fallen for this tactic a few times, but who does this help in the long run? I don't flaunt failures or scares, but they show God's unconditional love regardless of our mistakes once we accept the love he has for us.
“Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” (Jeremiah 31:3)
It's our acknowledgment of His love that brings us to a place to live a life that pleases Him, not our actions. THANK GOD!
My transparency says little about me but speaks volumes of the love of God for me despite me. He views me and us all in such a beautiful way that, once we comprehend it, nothing that can keep us from being all He has created us to be and all that we desire to be as well.
I knew I wanted to share some things leading to my 50th birthday, but why pictures, especially of me!? What came to mind was the word "imagination."
Imagination - the power of reproducing images (a mental representation; idea; conception) stored in the memory under the suggestion of associated images (reproductive imagination) or recombining former experiences in creating new images directed at a specific goal or aiding in the solution of problems.
Before this journey to 50, I always had an image in my mind of who I imagined "Marietta" to be. Disappointments, fears, challenges, and life often dimmed that image, which caused me to stop imagining who I was becoming and caused me to settle for mediocrity. We kill or stunt our growth when we cut off the mind's ability to build mental scenes, objects, or events that do not exist or are not present, which causes us to go after that very thing we imagine.
Proverbs 23:7 states, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." Even though the context of this scripture is about a stingy person, the principle is still the same.
As I reflect on each photoshoot I've done so far, a part of who I've imagined has been surfaced through every picture. I'm healthy; I'm beautiful, I'm a proud black woman, I'm worthy of loving and receiving love, I'm smart, I'm passionate for things/people I care about, and so much more! I had to visualize this first in my heart before it could authentically come through as the genuine Marietta God created me to be. I had to see myself as He sees me!
Each blog post is an image representing the various phases of my life, past, present, and future. I see myself evolving more and more because growth is always continuous. A thing only ceases to grow once it has exhausted its potential and has no further use. We all have so much invested in ourselves that has yet to be explored, revealed, and unfolded. There's no time to sit in a place of complacency. Again, the world is waiting on YOU to show up and contribute to making it a better place for all.
In addition to all I've shared, let me make this very clear; I HATE TAKING PICTURES! The team working with me on this project will be the first to confirm this. I've never had problems expressing myself verbally or in writing, but these pictures have worked every nerve there is to work. I'm more comfortable behind the scenes, not upfront with "all eyes on me," but when I knew this was something God gave me, I knew it had a greater purpose than me.
This whole experience has taken me out of my comfort zone. I also must say that I have the best team anyone could ever have! They encouraged, pushed, and maybe even wanted to slap me to get me to the point I'm at now. Eight months in, and I haven't backed down, thanks to God strategically showing who would walk with me through this project, pushing me (while kicking and screaming) to embrace every facet of the beauty that's Marietta!
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