A Heart Like a Lake…
Senior Session, Smith Mountain Lake, VA
As I was reflecting on this very special session, I rested with how fitting it was to photograph this beautiful girl, my niece, at our family lake home in Virginia. And then I found these words from Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu that perfectly framed my thoughts.
“Make your heart like a lake, with a calm, still surface, and great depths of kindness”
Our little Mer Mer does just that. Without effort. She embodies the peacefulness found in these waters and her layers of love and kindness for all creatures that live in her world have no bounds. This baby of the family has brought us so much joy from the very beginning. I vividly remember holding her in the hospital and feeling a love that seemed shockingly limitless for her to not be mine.
She is a natural listener. She gathers, observes and absorbs without judgement. This comes in handy in a house full of strong personalities as she stands tall, owning her own space in the world, but in a way that honors everyone else’s place too. Sometimes I catch myself just watching her and understanding so clearly the biblical teaching that God made us in His image. This child has always seemed close to the divine with the purest of hearts.
She is a protector of all animals, from the large and smelly to the small and crawly. She is a lover of nature, bringing the outdoors fully in with a bedroom that is greener than most gardens. She is an empath through and through. And she has her grandmother’s gift of an artist’s hand, creating pieces that reflect her soft and tender nature.
As the closest NC cousin in age to my boys, I have always been so grateful to have her as a role model. She has taught them how to be comfortable in their own skin, how to follow their own path and not jump on someone else’s coattails. How to be soft and kind and heartfelt. How to have courage by choosing her own special adventures.
And now, and now, as the baby stands poised to leave the nest, I wish so many things for you. I wish the world could be deserving of all the love you bring to it. That your spirit to take risks never fades and your passion for God’s creatures only grows. I hope your peacefulness is always a place you can come back to when life presents challenges. And that you never forget that you are wholly and completely loved. That we belong to each other and all four of the crazies in this house are here for you always.
Love + Hugs,
Your Aunt TyTy