Wednesday, January 6, 2010

The Artist

As I look around at the various things my kids have left lying around, my eyes are drawn to the art box and sketch pad that belong to my daughter. Yes, she had asked for a keyboard for Christmas, for music is one of her passions. However, she also asked for art supplies; colors, pastels, charcoals, pencils...you name it, she wanted it. If you haven't already figured it out, art is another passion of hers. She loves to draw. Her sketch pad goes almost everywhere with her. She reminds me of someone I once knew...


I've always loved art and beautiful things. Arts and crafts at school was always my favorite time. Loved to color, paint, glue...you name it. My dad is a wonderful artist, so I guess I have a little of his creative gene running through my veins. In other words I can draw a little, come up with all kinds of cutesy crafts and bulletin boards, decorate a room with ease and scrapbook a whole album of memories in just a few days with the help of my sister...


When I was in high school, I joined the art club in 9th grade and hid there. When all my friends were in Drama and choir, I made the sets and set up the stage behind the scenes. I loved it. In fact I told everyone that I was going to be an art major and go into some kind of design one day...


Hmm...hello college. Hello reality. I might have a little creativeness in my pinkie finger, but my first year of college was hard, with students that had a whole hand of artistic talent. One girl in my classes could sit and draw your portrait on the spot, beautiful pieces of art. It was a humbling experience for me. I soon realized I was in over my head and changed majors. Truth is, if I had had a little more guidance, I might have stuck with it and became an elementary art teacher or something of that sort, for not everyone is called to be a portrait painter, but that is all water under the bridge.


Where am I going with all of this? As I turn the pages of the sketch book before me, I realize something very special. It may have started with stick people and crayons, and led to manga art and cartoons, but I think my little girl has been given a gift. The gift of expressing herself with a pencil and paper. Who knows what she will do with it. She may doodle her little cartoonish subjects forever, or she may go on to do great things with her craft. Who knows what God has in store for her. I just know it makes her mommy giddy every time I see a new drawing.


I have to stop and ask if that is how God feels with me. It gives me the warm fuzzes to think that God might get giddy over something beautiful I might do! It also puts this parenting thing in a whole new light. I might not have gone on to be a famous designer or had a masterpiece placed in a museum, but I am humbled to think that I was used to create two of Gods most beautiful masterpieces yet...we call them "Kayla" and "Jordan." I'm sorry, but that beats a degree in art any day!


The other day I was reading a book by Joyce Meyers. In it was a very small little quote that grabbed me. "God will never help you be anyone but YOU." Wow! I think so many times we "wish" we were someone else, somewhere else, looking like something else. The truth is that each one of us was created by the master artist himself, for a beautiful purpose. Only He didn't just draw us in a sketch pad. He put us straight on canvas, to be hung for the world to see. Somehow, when I see it from the "artist's perspective," I do feel giddy.


So, as everyone has already probably broken at least one of their New Year's resolutions, I am just going to simply try harder to meet God where I am...at me. Yes, there are some things I need to change, spiritually, mentally, physically, but there are also so many special things about me too, that often get overlooked by the feelings of inadequacy, failure and just plain wishing I was someone else, living someone elses life at moments. (Just being real. Like I still think it is unfair that Heidi Klum looks like she does after how many children???) When I look back at the many choices I have made through life, there are many things I would do different, just because I did let fear stand in my way. So, if I have to make a resolution of any kind, I am going to say that I am going to try harder to be happy with just being me. Well, let me rephrase that...I want to be better at being the "me" that God planned me to be.


Normally I would end on that little note, but since I am one proud mommy, I will show you a few of the many drawings that happen to be in THIS book. (She has several of them laying around.)























15 comments:

Andrea said...

WOW, she is quite talented. GOD has created quite the little artist.

Blessings and hugs, andrea

Tiffani said...

Oh WOW! That's just amazing. I know you're proud!! I get that "Mama" giddy-proud every time Connor comes up with some amazing lego creation or artwork he's done..he makes teeny tiny details that just blow me away!

Quite a talent, she is...keep it up, sweet girl!

He & Me + 3 said...

Those are beautiful pictures. she is very talented. So glad all I have to be is me & that God will help me to achieve and be the best me I can be.

Kristin said...

Those are amazing. I love the one of the girl with the dark hair, leaning back!

I loved this post and I think I needed to hear it! I need to remember that God made me to be ME. I love that quote. It's so easy to see people in the blog world, etc. and wish I was more like them. Wish it didn't take me this long to figure things out. Wish I knew what I want to be when I grow up....LOL! I'm going to stop thinking that way and just follow who He wants me to be!

Alleluiabelle said...

Hi Dear Friend,

You are so right...Your daughter is so very talented. Her pictures are priceless. God certainly has designed each one of us to be unique in his/her own way and I thank Him for the gift of life. I only want to fulfill His purpose for me in hopes that some day when we meet face-to-face that He will be well pleased.

We all have had our feelings of inadequacies that is for sure, but He knows who we are and how we feel and we will always be beautiful in His eyes despite what we are feeling at the time.

Thank you for this beautiful post. You are an encourager and you inspire me with your thoughts and words.

Love & Prayers,
Alleluiabelle

Jim said...

Sis,
The "EYES" have it!!!!

As I told Kayla during Christmas, I think one of the most difficult things one can draw or create is "EYES". There is nothing that takes more inner light and gift than expressing these most "perceptive" of body members. You can see in her capture of them a deeper expression, real thought and mental activity going on behind their sparkle. Great going, Kay!

And Sis, your perception and ability to capture and write down DEPTH and APPLICATION is no less gift-born. I am constantly fighting the parental.pride.gene that seeks to shout such to the world.

I appreciate you more and more each day.

Jim-Dad

Amber said...

I've seen first hand the creativity that pours out of both of y'all. And you both are amazing artists. Really.

It always made me sad that you changed your major. Because I always thought it would be cool to say, "My sister is an artist." Because, you know...it is all about me! ;)

Kayla is truly gifted, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for her.

Love you much.

Christi @ Writing the Waves said...

Great art, and great insight! Loved that post! :)

Heart2Heart said...

Mich,

What a great post and such a talent your daughter has. May you see the beauty in encouraging her and seeing her use her God given talents to do all that God has called her and you to do.

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

Anonymous said...

Well said, Mich. I loved that Joyce M. quote. Thanks for sharing it. Good food for thought.

Kayla's blessed to have a mom who will encourage and support her in her passions and talents.

really.truly said...

Beautiful.

And I love what Joyce had to say too :)

christy rose said...

Wow! Everyone of those are awesome!

Gretchen said...

Beautiful girl. Beautiful momma.

I often tell my kids (because it's easier to tell them than oneself) that they are awesome/gorgeous/amazing because of who they are and Whose they are. But sometimes I forget, and they forget. And we want to be popular or somebody else. Just for a day. Thank you for the gentle reminder that we are and we have all we need.

BTW: great pictures!!! I am a stick figure draw-er, myself.

Becca~CapturingSimpleJoys said...

Your daughter is very talented (as is your son;)
It's wonderful to see your children develop their talents and enjoy something you did at their age.
I remember feeling a bit like you when I entered 9th grade. Not on an artistic level but an athletic level. I always, up to that point, loved playing ball and just participating in sports but I came from a very tiny (teeny tiny)school and I remember being very intimidated by all these kids who were better than me. I was shy and it was easier to just not go out there and play. I wish now I had.

sanjeet said...

Connor comes up with some amazing lego creation or artwork he's done..he makes teeny tiny details that just blow me away!

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