Light it Up
My grandfather was an artist and I remember watching him perfect his skills over the years. As a senior he even began attending art classes at the county college. He was always drawing and sketching but in time he began to paint beautiful pictures including murals for a church in our hometown.
He often gave paintings away to his family and friends but his garage/art studio was still full with the evidence of his work. My grandfather passed away several years ago and it is a long story, but the paintings he had in his possession were stolen and never recovered.
It hurt to know that those things were gone along with him. I thought that if those paintings were still with us we would feel him near. But something better happened. Prior to all of this, as my sister and I were growing up, our grandfather gave us art lessons. I remember drawing with him in the living room or painting with him at the picnic table in the backyard. He explained how to do things so that we would achieve certain effects and how to draw things in proper proportion.
Little did I know that at that picnic table he was recreating a part of himself. Because he passed on what God had blessed him with, his art is not lost and it did not disappear with him – my sister never forgot those lessons. She is painting, drawing and designing graphics to her heart’s content while brightening the lives of others with her talents just as he did.
It is never too late to begin using your gifts or acquiring new skills to make them better.
Today, be encouraged not to hide those talents that you have been blessed with. Light up this world for God’s glory and use your gifts to empower the next generation!
Matthew 5:14-16 (New King James Version)
14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
The trick is getting today’s youth to sit long enough to embrace what you are attempting to pass on. If what you are attempting to teach them does not generate a financial windfall, they become uninterested. Young men desire to be rap stars but fail to see the importance of understanding poetry. Young women desire to be fashion designers but refuse to learn how to properly take care of their clothes.
It is sad that so much information and wisdom goes to the grave because young people are unwilling to listen. Most believe that they already have the answers. I don’t mean to sound pessimistic after such an inspiring entry, but so many have brought the horse to water. It just refuses to drink.
Listening to a 10 year state on the importance of eliminating the “n” word shows me that there is still hop for our youth. Watching the Scripps 2009 National Spelling Bee on ESPN also gives me hope that the youth are not totally lost. I’m 37 and yet sometimes I feel like I am so much older. LOL!! I guess being with my grandmother in church, every weekend for over 20 years has allowed me to see tings a little differently.
The Bible states that we are to train up a child in the way he should go. There aren’t too many willing to train or be trained. Thoughts?
JRB
Enjoy your day!
Jay,
Thank you so much for your comments, I couldn’t agree with you more! Parenting takes alot of work and I think it is important to start instilling these values and work ethics in children at a young age if not in word then certainly by example. If this is not the example, or if reality has not been presented to these children, then yes they are going to have a skewed view of reality and not understand what it is to educate yourself and work for your success.
Thank God that there are families out there equipping the young ones to enter the real world and make a positive impact!
If I focused on all the people who won’t grasp what I am attempting to do with my writing, then yes it would be very negative and discouraging. However, I trust that these messages are getting through to people who not only need it but are also willing and able to receive it.
There was a point in my life where I chose to ignore what I knew was good wisdom and knowledge. But the time came where my heart was ready to receive exactly what I needed. So, I’m doing this out of obedience and praying that it will land on good ground….