Photo by mchristi314 at www.flickr.com
Editor’s Note: The Power of Moms is a website for mothers of all religions (and for mothers who are not necessarily religious). Each Sunday, we post a spiritual essay, and we would love to gather a wide variety of perspectives and ideas. Our goal is to be respectful of all beliefs while simultaneously offering opportunities to share meaningful, spiritual thoughts with one another.
A few years ago, my three-year-old son and I were sitting in a meeting, and I was trying to keep him happy with a coloring book and crayons.
He was right. His drawings did basically look like scribbles, but that was okay with me–that’s how every artist begins. My son didn’t see it that way, though. His older sisters could stay in the lines. Their pictures actually looked like something. When they finished a masterpiece, they felt a sense of accomplishment at having created a colorful garden, a family portrait, or a series of rainbows and fluffy clouds.
My son could only make scribbles.
It hurt my heart to see him discouraged, so I picked up a green crayon, placed it in his grip, and then guided his hand around the coloring book, helping him create the picture he could see in his mind’s eye.
I remember that moment clearly because the Lord used that experience to teach me a powerful lesson.
I often look at my life and think, “I just scribble.” I burn the pancakes, I miss half the stains that enter our washing machine, I don’t create perfect web pages for The Power of Moms, I struggle to find the “right” way to teach my children how to behave, I cry too easily, and I’m lacking in patience.
These are little things, for the most part, and I know that I do many things well, but I still get discouraged. Sometimes I don’t even want to try to create that masterpiece I can see in my head.
The Lord knows that. Every successful person has started out with “scribbles.” It might look like everyone else can stay in the lines, but if that’s the case, it’s only because they first started out with a mish-mash of indecipherable lines and squiggles.
It’s when we’re feeling discouraged–when we’re convinced that our efforts will yield nothing but failure–that the Lord takes us by the hand and helps us to create something more beautiful than we ever imagined.
A scripture I love from church says, “Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers.”
I know this is true. I’ve seen it happen in my own family. We’ll have a really hard day, one that is full of sickness, quarrels, and messes, but then everything will turn around, and suddenly I’m sitting in the middle of a masterpiece I did not have the strength or ability to create.
It’s all because of Him.
When we start to question ourselves, and when we feel convinced that our scribbles will never be enough, let’s remember to rely on Him. Rely on Him heavily. Rely on Him forever.
Beautifully said!
Beautiful post. I feel EXACTLY like I’m just scribbling a lot of the time. Thank you for helping put those feelings in perspective–and for reminding us that WE are all works in progress as well.
Oh April, This really is exactly what I needed and I thank you for your words. I was struggling with feeling so inadequate and your article pushed me into the direction I needed to go! You really are the best April!
April,
This article is light years beyond scribbles! Your style is so refined. Thank you for a website that allows moms everywhere to become beautifully refined. It’s really wonderful!
This is beautiful. Just this afternoon I was trying to push away thoughts of comparison to a dear friend of mine who seems to draw beautiful pictures, always stays in the lines, while I just “scribble.” It is amazing what can happen with the help of the Lord and a change in our perspective. As I was in the drudges of January, a month full of lots of sickness, stress, and heartache at our house, I really felt like I was just scribbling, not growing at all, just treading water. After the retreat I came home and looked back at January with a new perspective and realized that yes, there were those things I had mentioned, but there were also moments of pure joy, great accomplishments, time spent with loved ones, and a weekend of being taught and guided by wonderful women and being inspired by the Lord to know how best to help my family learn and grow. Scribbles are good, they are our training ground, and I need to remember this more often.
This is a great thought. It led me to the disheartening idea of how badly it hurts when others believe I am only capable of scribbles. I’m glad to see that you took your eyes and ears out of the meeting to help him succeed. Sometimes I feel like before I even start something someone will look at me and say “no, you can’t do that, all you can do is scribble” so I don’t try. I should place more trust in myself and in the Lord.
So sweet, April! Thank you for always inspiring my life:)
I love it April, thank you! Such a good lesson to remember.
Thank you for this great shift in perspective. I need this reminder often!