Be the Masterpiece

Have you ever watched a YouTube video, cooking show, or a DIY show and just found yourself in awe? Looking through “pins” on Pinterest that shine a spotlight on my lack of creativity, skill, and imagination are also up there on the list of things that have me shaking my head in wonder. I would be the queen of those “nailed it” memes going around the internet. It’s one thing to go to a museum and admire the masterpieces in all shapes and sizes (even though my kid could scribble better; just saying), and it’s another to feel as though you’ve been given the same task or assignment.

I have a 17-year-old daughter who has “so moved on” from drawing or coloring pictures to hang on the fridge, but I also have a 7-year-old, 5-year-old, and 2-year-old who pepper me with works of art. Each of them demonstrates different skill levels of artistic abilities (can give those professional artists a run for their museum money). Our 2-year-old doesn’t scribble; she draws nothing but circles on top of circles on top of circles on top of circles. They are her “O’s” as she calls them (smart little cookie). Our 5-year-old learned how to write his name months ago and now all he wants to do is write words (constantly asking how to spell things). My husband and I love seeing the progression that each of our kiddos have made to date; from scribbles to faceless stick figures, faceless stick figures to BIG eyes and pointed teeth, and on to comic book style segments that are keepers (seriously: a bunny on a toilet taking a poo!).

I’ve often felt dwarfed by the sheer talent that is found around me (not talking about the bunny on the toilet). Just in my family, there are musicians, artists that produce museum-quality pieces, welders, crafters and bakers that can give Pinterest pins a lesson, and that’s just on the creative side. Also to be found in my family, we have multiple teachers and professors, preachers, nurses and medical staff, an IT support leader, a firefighter, custom home designers and builders, wood carvers, and soldiers. That still doesn’t cover all of the talent to be found in my family. Each of them crushing it in their corner of the world.

There have been times that I’ve had to make a conscious decision to shoot down jealousy and insecurities. Sometimes my shot is perfect and I effectively silence the little demon who tells me that I’m not good enough, and there are other times that I miss my mark. That’s the beauty about practice. Remember that song, “Practice makes perfect… practice makes perfect… I guess if I practice the better I’ll be…” Well, if you took piano lessons in the 80’s, and listened to “Bullfrogs & Butterflies”, you probably came across this little song. The trouble comes when you’re practicing something you were never made for. Yeah, I dropped piano lessons.

I’ve spent the last several weeks in a bit of a whirlwind. Kind of like a spring cleaning in the middle of a tornado. We’ve had a yard sale, had family and friends visit from out of state (and out of country), went camping (spend a fortune to live like the homeless), and don’t forget the three young children underfoot, the “tedult” with her work and social schedule, and trying to slow down to show affection for my husband. I found myself stretched thin even with help from my hubby. Between cleaning out closets, packing and unpacking, performing first aid on boo-boos, reading for work (I love my job!), and meal prep for home or on the go (but sometimes the cook is NOT in the kitchen), I decided to tackle a furniture refinishing project. What can I say; I must be a glutton for punishment. The piece that I’m refinishing (still) is an old buffet cabinet that has been around for as long as I have (or longer; we’re not sure). I’ll post pictures when it’s done, eventually.

With refinishing the buffet cabinet, one of the first things I had to do was remove the hardware. All of the knobs / pulls had to be taken off along with the hinges. No worries. I have my very own tool box of which I’m very proud. Don’t judge, my husband builds custom homes, has a garage full of tools, and I have a measly box, but it’s mine. I found the screwdriver needed and was able to make quick work of the removal. But it did get me thinking. If I were to try using a Philips head screwdriver on a flat head screw, it wouldn’t work. That would be like me trying to be a nurse or doctor (even if I could manage to earn the required degrees). I’ve been out there in the “working” or “professional” world and experienced favor in everything I did (even in banking / finance!). But I did not experience lasting peace or contentment. It was as though I was a flat head screwdriver turning a Philips head screw. It would work, but it wasn’t made for it.

Why do I find myself fretting over all of the areas I don’t succeed? I look at pieces of art a family member effortlessly creates and then I look at my deranged stick figure (at least I think it’s a stick figure). But I was never meant to do what they were created to do! “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.” I Corinthians 12:4-6 (NIV) Each of my family members have been given many gifts and has been given these gifts for a purpose. The gifts given to me are unique to me, but we can both utilize our gifts for giving glory to God.

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” I Peter 4:10 (NIV) Each person reading this has a unique gift: to one is given the highest level of patience (my hubby, hands down), another can weave a story that captivates great audiences, one might have an eye for the most miniscule detail, someone is a grand chef even if only to a family of four, someone has the gift of music (maybe not meant to be on the radio for the whole world to hear), and another can make friends wherever they go (and keep the friendship regardless of years or geography).

We were created uniquely different but also uniquely alike: we were all created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and we were all created for His glory (Isaiah 43:6-7) and His pleasure (Revelation 4:11). We are all different, gifts from each end of the spectrum and in-between, but we’re meant to work together. “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:3-8 (NIV)

God is everything! He is absolutely everything! It’s not that He can be, it’s that He is. He is THE King who made Himself to be a servant and the ultimate sacrifice for all that He created. He is a Lion and a Lamb. He is our judge, but He paid our ransom. He. Is. Everything. But He didn’t create us to be everything. He created us to bring Him glory and pleasure with the gifts He bestowed to each of us individually. He didn’t create us to be EVERYTHING. He created us to be part of the body, but not the whole body. It’s time that we embrace our giftings, take joy in our talents, and stop doubting God’s goodness. In all of what God is, He is good, and He gives the best gifts!

Embrace the giftings given to you. If God gave you the gift, there is bound to be a way to use it for His glory, even if it’s not preaching from a pulpit. If you need direction on how to use your gift for His glory, all you need to do is ask. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV) Have fun being a masterpiece; God’s masterpiece, whether you resemble DaVinci’s “Mona Lisa”, a bunny pooping on a toilet, a deranged stick figure (I’m proud of that stick figure; it’s me!), or a bunch of “O’s”.

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)