Painting...

Painting...6-16-25

I love to paint. I'm not very good, but I see things and would love to paint them. No, I did not paint this, but I've studied this piece over the weekend. It was in the little Airbnb where we stayed. I think I can paint this, henceforth, I shall try. My oldest says KJV should be the way we talk. I think he loves the phrases and words. I used, henceforth, just for him. Someday, he will read these and smile.

God gives us all talents. Painting is not necessarily one of mine, but has developed into a passion. Oh the messes I sometimes make with the pictures and paints. It is a resemblance to the messes we sometimes make when we try to do things without God's guidance. He gives us talents, and He understands our love for things that aren't necessarily a talent, but trigger something within us. Painting and singing are two of those things for me. I haven't exactly figured out what my talents are, even at my age, but I do know my love for certain things. I have watercolors, acrylics, pencils, oils, canvases, knives, various mediums, and brushes. I have started pieces to put them aside, given some away, and thrown away others. My grandson can sketch better than I ever could. But art is something I enjoy and I will continue to try new things with art.

I made the pieces for my wall for VBS this year. That is the first time I have really painted in three years. Yes, I did the front of the Blessing Box for my previous school where I served as Principal. That was a very small painting. To do pieces this big and this many, well, it has been awhile. I loved the completed projects although they all have individual character. Character is what I call my mistakes when I paint. These mistakes give each piece a uniqueness.

You see, when we make mistakes, the original piece changes ever so slightly. Sometimes you can't look and see the difference or the result of the mistake, but it is there. The artist knows the character flaws. God knows ours. The character changed the piece. Our character is developed and strengthened through minute or sometimes larger mistakes or experiences that make the original unique. God uses those character flaws to mold and make us new. Romans 5:3-5 says, "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.".

I used to be ashamed of all the mistakes I made in life. Even when painting things for those who asked, I could see my mistakes. They would glare at me, acusing. Sometimes I find myself stepping back into that shame. But I remember that was before. Before God changed me and my character. I now explain to others about the character of my pieces. Just like I have made so many mistakes in my life, God is not ashamed of me. He loves me and all my character flaws. I have a new hope. A hope in Heaven. A hope in Him. My character is produced through perseverance, through the fire. I have character, and I will embrace the art inside.