Creating Beautiful Moments

Artists are unique gifts to mankind. They help others learn to gaze at beauty and slow down enough to observe God's creation through their eyes. It's my belief that there is an artist in every little person that some bigger person just needs to tap in to.

Unfortunately, it's the bigger people that often (unknowingly) squelch those creative and artistic juices in little ones. They squelch those beautiful moments with time constraints, pressures of their own, fear of imperfection and other human maladies of the soul.

Perhaps get my point.

This is where a grandparent's voice can really count.

A grandparent has an opportunity to leave a legacy that matters. A grandparent can speak into the heart of a child words like, "You're so awesome. I love your little drawings. That color you used is so beautiful. Tell me why you chose that special color." A grandparent has a unique power of influence that no one else has in the life of a little one.

Michael and I started a project in our master bathroom. We have painted walls, closet doors (brown to white - Dunn Edwards Swiss Coffee - btw), trim. He is installing new lighting and will tackle new faucet fixtures soon.

This one very large and very empty wall in our master bathroom has been staring at me. I've been staring back. And, then I knew. I'd remembered something that one incredibly, creative mother - Meredith (Like Merchant Ships) had done with her little girl.

My frugal shopping hunt began: one - as large as possible - canvass picture that could be easily transformed by the artist in the little girl. My hunting trip took me to three Goodwill stores and one Ross. Each Good will had what I wanted - except for the $39 price tag. One could have heard me squeal with the print above - for $15.

The little princess was terribly excited when I told her what she'd get to do on Wednesday morning, right after I made our family breakfast. She was so cute and so excited that she woke up Tuesday night at 11 pm, found me and said, "It's painting picture day!"

I know she'll never forget the beautiful moment created for her. I won't. I will remember her face, her intensity and her chit chat as she told me what her picture was about. I pray that she will never forget my to words to her - speaking to the creative part of her feminine soul - especially in those hard reality times of life - where others become critical of her or who she is.

The picture is finished - not yet in place. Are these the colors I'd have chosen. Nope. But, I chose her and so it will remain.

What beautiful moments can you create today? Need ideas? Melissa at the Inspired Room and Julia's Hooked on Houses have many.