For those of you who have lost a spouse or other loved ones...?!

Your question struck a chord in me and I will do my best to answer.

When I was 26 I married my husband who was 42 at the time. Big age gap to some, but we were soul mates. We also didn't have children, but because of choice. He was my only and everything. I thought about losing him and it seemed the most painful thing in the world to imagine. I couldn't imagine waking up with him not there.

When we got married we did it in the court without anyone knowing about it. To avoid other people's cr*p. We took a friend along who was our witness and she took about 20 crappy photos on the camera. One of these 20 was of her bum, by accident (don't ask me how but it was unintentional). So we really had 19 then. Whenever we were on holiday he was always the one taking pictures, him behind the camera, me in front. So there were only 19 photos of together in the same picture.

I suggested that we go to a professional photographer and get some pro pictures of the two of us together. He always said that he looked old and didn't want any photos of me so young and him so old together.

I had this terrible terrible fear of him dying, and one night (working night shift) I wrote his eulogy, what I would want to say at his funeral. I told him about it and he thought it quite morbid. I offered to read it to him and he said he didn't want to hear it. I told him that it was beautiful but he graciously declined.

When he died of cancer two months later I did read it at his funeral, or at least part of it. I tweaked it a bit after he died. We didn't know that he was sick. I was a widow at 28.

I now have a few pictures of him (when he was caught unawares by me and the camera) and the precious few from our wedding.

Do I wish we had more photos? Sometimes I do. But those that I do have I treasure more than gold. After his death I had the best ones of him blown up and put them all over my walls, that no matter which was I turned in the house, he would always be with me. Time has passed and I gradually took them down. I have a special box in which I store all our photos and all the little things he gave me. During our time together he wrote me two love letters. Honestly, I wish I had more letters than I do photos.

Photos are moments caught in time. Letters are moments of the heart caught in time. They are worth so much more than pictures.

Please send me a message and give me your email. I would like to share one of our precious few photos with you. I think you will understand......

I know you are talking about people, but when I lost my two cats, I was glad I had taken a lot of pictures and videos of them. It helped me remember them in a good way, rather than just remembering their death. I think it is good to take pictures of those you love because later on, you will cherish those pictures.

Having a few pictures is good, but don't overdo it, as the pictures can make it harder sometimes. If you re-marry, put the pictures away. You could pray about your life. Most important in life is to get God in your life and prayers. God is love and knowing God can transform your life. When you know God, your spiritual Father, then pray about your life, God can help you live a better life. As God is love, life is primarily about love and relationships in order to have a rich and full life. Also, you need to know God's Son, Jesus Christ, in your life as your Lord and Savior as Jesus died on the cross as payment for our sins. Having Him with you will give you God's blessing and forgiveness, as you live God's way. We need to know and follow God in this life so we can go to heaven after we die, and so we can get God's help now. Not following God leads to hell, eternal suffering. Instead, there is an important prayer to pray to become a born again Christian. This prayer should be said with faith in God and a sincere heart:
"Dear God, I know that I am a sinful person and I don't want to be like this anymore. I know that Jesus Christ died on the cross as payment for our sins, and I want to accept Jesus Christ into my life as my Lord and Savior so I can receive God's forgiveness, guidance, and go to heaven someday. Thank you, dear God, for your mercy and guidance; in Jesus' name. Amen."
After saying this prayer, you should check out a Christian church like Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran.
Also, get into their Bible study group so you can learn more about God, Jesus, and God's will for your life. The Bible is God's instruction book about how to live a God-honoring life so you can go to heaven after you die. The church can also get you baptized and prayed for. You can pray for yourself daily too. God guide your life.