Gratitude For the Lessons We Are Taught

For the first children's art class I have taught in several years I invited the parents to stay and draw. I was a little nervous, as I always am when I am in front of a group, but soon was in my element. There were fifteen people drawing, and every one of them looked happy. Every parent, to my surprise, stayed. Many of them followed along, drawing their own picture.

Thank you Lord for giving me the ability to do this.

It has been such a long time since I have taught young kids. I had forgotten how much fun it is. They are so eager, so enthusiastic, so filled with wide-eyed wonder. When we reached the shading segment of the process, they could hardly believe how their two dimensional rendering of a horse seemed to rise off the page in a three dimensional trot.

Every person, including the moms, drew a beautiful horse. All the nervousness in the kids (and me) had vanished. We were united in a new kinship- the love of the magic of drawing.
I taught them that there were four major steps I always follow:
1. Block in the drawing with basic shapes
2. Correct the outline or contour
3. Determine the light source and shade accordingly
4. Add details.

This is not a bad prescription for life.
1. Block in the major goals
2. Outline the best way to reach them
3. Look to the light source, Jesus.
4. Don't neglect the little things in life, the details. They are sometimes what make it all worthwhile and bring the whole picture to life.

As the class ended, I bade them all goodbye, and began cleaning up. One little girl came up to me. I glanced up.
"Thank you," she said. And then she hugged me.

This little girl who had been a total stranger two hours ago was so delighted with the lesson that she hugged me. I had forgotten what it felt like to be so simply appreciated. I need to keep that in mind when the lessons for me from God conclude.

Thank you God. I am hugging you in my heart.
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Luke 17:11-19

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; ...

Psalm 118:28-29 

You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

Ephesians 1:16-18 

I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

John 11:41 

So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.