My son Caleb is an artist at heart. From the moment he grabbed a pen at age two, his hands began to draw. Whether it was people or cars or trees, he took pride in his creations. He adored his drawings as well as the “ooohs” and “aaahhs” that usually accompanied them. However, he was particular about his drawings. He wouldn’t share them if they were incomplete or not up to his standards. He was also apt to crumble sheets of paper if he didn’t like what he had drawn. He would tear the papers or throw them across the room if he was displeased with his efforts.
My mother would tease that we were going to need stock in a paper company – or a forest – if we were going to keep up with his habits.
In those moments, I wasn’t sure whether to laugh silently, cry with him or discipline his tiny fits.
When asked about the mess around him, Caleb would acknowledge it yet his response was honest and almost always the same. “This isn’t right. I can do better.” And, he would start drawing again.
I wish I had Caleb’s commitment to excellence. He can determine very early in a project whether it’s his best effort or not. I haven’t always given God my best, and if I was honest enough, I would tear up my effort and throw it in a trash can, too.
How lucky are we to serve a God who gives us a clean palette as many times as we need in order to get the best from us!
“Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow…. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.” Psalms 51: 7, 10
My mother would tease that we were going to need stock in a paper company – or a forest – if we were going to keep up with his habits.
In those moments, I wasn’t sure whether to laugh silently, cry with him or discipline his tiny fits.
When asked about the mess around him, Caleb would acknowledge it yet his response was honest and almost always the same. “This isn’t right. I can do better.” And, he would start drawing again.
I wish I had Caleb’s commitment to excellence. He can determine very early in a project whether it’s his best effort or not. I haven’t always given God my best, and if I was honest enough, I would tear up my effort and throw it in a trash can, too.
How lucky are we to serve a God who gives us a clean palette as many times as we need in order to get the best from us!
“Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow…. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.” Psalms 51: 7, 10
RSS Feed