I asked for prayer last week in my Monday Morning Memo…because I was speaking this past weekend at a church retreat and for their Sunday morning service. I was so blessed to have several of you contact me during the week…letting me know you were lifting me up to our Father. God heard your prayers and showed up among us in a mighty way and I just can’t thank you enough for your amazing prayer support!
It was probably one of the most organized events I have ever been a part of, because Teresa and her crew made sure to do everything with excellence for God’s glory. But (and there is always a “but”!) not everything on our agenda this weekend thrilled me. You see, something that referred to the “C” word was listed on our itinerary and that word always makes me cringe.
What’s the “C” word? Crafts. Right there in black and white…on our schedule…was a time slot for learning how to paint a picture. Now reading that may make some of you giddy with excitement…but I had feelings that were quite the opposite. I am not a creative person and just about anything that falls under the title of crafts…makes me feel just a little nauseous
But as I reflected on this as I drove home yesterday, I came to the realization that the reason I don’t like to do things like this just might be because of my pride. I must have missed the day when artistic genes were handed out because it just isn’t my gift. So when I know that, more than likely, others around me are going to do a much better job than me…I tend to not want to put myself in that situation. When I compare my creative talent to the other dear women who were there…I fall painfully short…which just might bruise my pride a little bit.
Comparisons can be brutal, can’t they? I think too often we compare our weaknesses…with other peoples’ strengths…and as a result we can feel inferior rather easily. Therefore, that makes us not want to put ourselves in situations where we might not be perfect…OUCH. Oh, I’ve got a lot to learn in this department. I know I need to work on facing times such as this as opportunities to grow as a person as I fellowship with those around me, knowing that the end product probably won’t be award-winning…and that is entirely ok.
So, I came home and put my newly painted picture of a sunflower in my library so I will see it as I study and write. I’m going to have it as a reminder that I’ll never be a Picasso…and that’s ok! Life is short and I need to work on not taking myself so seriously and be willing to take part in things just for the fun of it.
In hindsight, it was worth every stroke of my brush to have the opportunity to spend those precious moments with these daughters of the King. So, I’m going to do my best to remember this, the next time I begin to waste energy worrying about my pride getting bruised over a piece of canvas. My artwork won’t be going into eternity (thank goodness!)…but those around me will…and I need to focus much more on making them feel my love, acceptance and encouragement. And who knows…maybe if I do this, they will offer to paint my picture for me next time
“So encourage each other and build each other up,
just as you are already doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11
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