'Making an Impact' - article by a friend...

I felt so led to share this article with all of you - my sweet blog followers. :)  A friend of mine, Greg Hahner, wrote this on FB about a photography 'experience' that he had.  I'm not quite sure how to describe this exactly, so I'll just quick babbling and let you read it for yourself. :)  All credit goes to him, and if you would like to share this on your blog, let me know and I'll ask his permission.  You can view his photography site at: http://www.greghahnerstudios.com/.  I would definitely recommend that you check it out!  You'll be A.M.A.Z.E.D! :)
Blessings!


"Recently I was asked to photograph some kids at a local preschool graduation. I was looking for the work, so I quickly accepted. It was business I needed, it would get my name out there, this was what I wanted.


The shoot went well, I got a lot of great images, another event to check off my list. All I had to do was fulfill orders and then forget about it. Little did I know that my work that day would have a huge impact in the lives of one of the families there that day.

I got a call earlier this week from one of the mothers at the graduation. She told me that her five-year-old son had been in an accident and had drowned over the weekend. She was calling to request photos of her son, the last ones taken of him before the accident.

I was shocked. This was not something I was prepared for. Concentrating solely on the business side of my photography, I had neglected to consider the personal side that accompanies such work. But it got me thinking about how our work can have an unexpected impact on the lives of others. In this case, my photos had provided a family with the last recorded memories of their five-year-old son just graduated from preschool. It is something that will affect them the rest of their lives, and it was something I was privileged to be part of.

I don't believe in coincidence or chance encounters. I do believe that God had a reason for me being there that day to capture the life of a little boy. Although unplanned, my efforts at doing business had made a difference. I only wish I had known then what I know now.

Everyone we come in contact with is unique and special. They are all made in God's image and are important in His sight. When we work with people, we must see them for who they are. Not merely clients that are there to meet your bills, but real people with real needs. You can never know how your life and your work will affect them.

So I ask you, what are you doing? Are you going about life worrying only about your needs, your hopes, your desires; or are you truly concerned about the people around you and their needs, hopes, and desires? Are you making a difference in the lives of others through your words and actions?
Don't forget about the lives of the people around you. They may seem unimportant, yet they are lives that deserve your concern and attention. You never know how their lives will be affected by what you do."