In and Out of the Lines
Have you ever spent time painting? You have your paints, your brushes, and a design in mind. Maybe you sketch it out, or you may draw it free-handed with your brush. Either way, you’re set up and ready.
Much like coloring, there’s a set of lines in which your colors must stay between. A design you want to bring to life. Specific colors to go specific places.
If you’ve ever been around a small child when they are painting or coloring, you are likely protecting the surface around where he or she is working. The child doesn’t understand why, but you know that he or she will most likely stretch their design outside of the lines. My carpet has been painted and my kitchen table has been colored on. Good news though, most everything has come clean! It’s all part of the creation and a young child’s imagination.
I love painting and being crafty. Putting things together and seeing how different colors and items form to create a design. I think I enjoy much creativity because with creativity comes dreaming. A moment or two, to think outside of the box and let your personality smile, and take a break from the outside world. In or outside of the lines.
While I was working on a recent painting project, I kept getting frustrated. The paint wasn’t covering up the minor blemishes in the wood, in the way that I wanted. My mind was continually drawn to the minor imperfections. To get rid of them, I kept adding layer after layer of paint. But still, I knew they were there.
It took me awhile to realize that these minor imperfections in the wood were ultimately what made it unique. That perhaps getting a little outside of the lines is in fact, okay. Brings our own stamp of character to the masterpiece. That even though I may want things to be perfect, that is not what is important.
Much can be true of ourselves. We can be our own worst enemy. Pointing out all of our flaws and blemishes. Quick to being critical and putting ourselves down. Perhaps you’ve been there. You’re looking in the mirror and there’s something you don’t like. The person looking back at you only makes you feel worse.
I learned that even though I may not be the next Michaelangelo, I can still be proud of what I have accomplished. That everything I may see as a blemish or imperfection, makes the design its own unique masterpiece. The same is true for our lives. In the eyes of God, we have been created perfect. Every birthmark, every freckle, every hair on our body was placed by the Creator God. He formed you in your mother’s womb and He fashioned you together for a unique, and personal purpose.
Sure, there may be things we don’t like. More for females than males I am sure. Let me remind you to be kind to the person looking back at you in the mirror. When we are more critical of ourselves, it is hard to pour from a glass of love to those around us. We must take care of ourselves before we can take care of others.
Ephesians 2:6-10, NLT
For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
