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Still Frames of Faithfulness

The View - May 09, 2025

There’s something sacred about a photograph. More than just a frozen moment, it embodies laughter, love and warmth—a glimpse of life’s beauty. Yet when we lose someone we cherish, that image transforms into something profoundly more: a portal, a still frame that speaks volumes. 

At the end of last year, my world shifted dramatically. My husband quietly paused his journey to await Jesus’ return. Suddenly, every photo became a treasure—his smile on our anniversary trip, the moment he walked our daughter down the aisle, the heartfelt speeches he delivered at three of our children’s weddings in the last 12 months. There he is—silent, still, yet ever near. 

In the quiet that followed, I was drawn to these images. And in that stillness, I fully sensed God’s presence. He understands our longing for signs—rainbows after storms, stars in a dark sky, crosses after suffering, and photographs whispering of His enduring love. Faith, like a photograph, sharpens in the pause. Grief stirs a hunger for evidence—proof that love endures, that we are not alone. This is faith: “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). A photograph bears witness to a life lived; faith, to a life eternal. 

As a school community, we often celebrate milestones with photos—first days, recitals, field trips, graduations. This week’s school photos - a yearly rite of passage, a snapshot of growth, friendships and the ever-changing landscape of a school community. While the photos, at the time, can feel quite stiff and formal, they surprisingly become precious over time, holding a unique place in the family archives. These images matter. All images matter. They are anchors for our memories, but more than that, they are reminders of God’s faithfulness throughout the seasons. 

So let’s keep taking photos. Let’s treasure them, not for their perfection, but for their presence. Hang them on your fridge, tuck them in your Bible, display them proudly, frame them with faith because if you look closely, you’ll see God’s faithfulness weaving our stories into eternity. Until then, let us cherish each still frame, knowing they are not just remnants of the past but glimpses of God’s eternal and everlasting story unfolding through us.

Mrs Hayley Ferris
Head of Secondary

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119 Avondale Rd, Cooranbong NSW 2265, Australia

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