RUNAWAY? HIDE? OR PUSH ON ... FORGIVE AND PLAY!

We have been definitely busy downsizing and fixing our next spot, so I haven't blogged much! But while going through things a few things have come back across my heart lately that made me think about how kids forgive one another..... better than we do!!! When you are hurt by someone, do you RUNAWAY? Do you HIDE? Maybe you PUSH ON ....which feels right ..... but do you (speaking to myself) FORGIVE? When I am hurt by someone I do runaway and I hide to protect myself and I push on .... but usually I can't get past the fact that I love that person who hurt me or disappointed me and it doesn't go away. SO I am learning and wanting to FORGIVE THEM, SO I CAN CONTINUE TO LOVE THEM .... either closely or at a slight distance. BUT I CAN LOVE THEM IN SPITE OF HURT .... I CAN and I DO. It also made me remember how the children played when they were all here last year.....they had the greatest of times and couldn't wait to be together..... then they would get selfish and fight or get mad or hurt at the other...... but usually five minutes later they were back to normal having a great time. That is what I want to learn ..... to get over myself and get over hurts!!! And to learn not to hurt others!! I am trying ..... it is "THANK GOODNESS" not a trait of God .... to runaway, to hide, to just push on, to pout and hold a grudge or guard the hurt in His heart feeding on it..... I have much still to learn at the age of 65!!! Praise God, I can still learn and He can still be patient with me. And thank goodness He loves me and He loves them equally! Who was hurt more? Jesus in His being rejected and dying in humiliation on the cross or all of my past hurts in the past? Then look how His Father lifted Him to such a glorious place because of His love for His Son and for us! I think for sure I can get over my hurts and forgive ..... He did. Honestly, each person who has ever hurt me is a person I can't get over because I LOVE them...... so I forgive them!!! ALL! And I HOPE they will forgive me. I am working on it with His help!! Blessings to you all!

CEREAL BOX Christmas Card

Above Final...the Magi who followed the star to Bethlehem...to give the new born King GIFTS....Matthew 2 Below without any drawing added ....then, above drew what I began to see...click to enlarge for details....this is a fun way to paint! No plan, just play!!! A surprise Christmas card called "THE GIFT", developed from this "found" story in the randomly painted cereal box cut out section. I have several pieces of art now that are all on saved cardboard from cereal boxes ... why cereal boxes? They are free, very pliable when gessoed on the grey side and I am not intimidated when I paint on them like I am when I watercolor on my expensive Arches paper! I flatten the cereal box, cut them to size of the biggest flat part and gesso them. Then I have a stack of them waiting for my playtime in the studio where I drip or smear on acrylic paint and spread it around or layer it with a brush or knife until I am happy with it. This one ... I was "happy" with the results .... and especially happy that I stopped where I did and didn't "over finish" it ....(makes me think of how Christ is never finished with us ... we are a work in progress...) I printed it on 5x7 vellum, cut them to go on top of my card stock, off white was best, and to fit inside my 5x7 Dark Green envelopes I got on sale last year ... then printed the before and after on the back of the card with a Christmas story ....(you can read about the Magi, or three Wisemen in Matthew 2)... then my sweet husband writes and sends all the Christmas cards for me! ... anyway ... it is our Christmas card for 2010.... the kids were reading Luke chapter 1 and 2 last week and I wonder if what you read comes through onto your art .... if maybe it is on your heart? Enjoy!!