Sept 10, 2020
I remember the first time I saw a Norman Rockwell painting. I was probably 11 or 12 years old at the time, and I was so captivated that I asked my parents for a book of his paintings for Christmas. I laughed at his candid depictions of childhood, and little did I know how accurate his brush strokes were of little boy mischief and fun.
Yesterday we set off to feed goats and ride bikes. But one thing led to another, and I soon found myself sitting on a dock watching my boys net fish with peanut butter crackers. You may say you’ve never heard of using crackers as bait, but it was all we had, for this after all was an impromptu fishing trip.
The scene that unfolded before me made me wish I could paint. No doubt Norman Rockwell would have splashed that inspiration into a masterpiece. I could try to paint the outlines and smudge some color, but in the end, it wouldn’t come close to capturing the adventure, emotion, and beauty of that afternoon fishing trip. Whether we view life with a quiet smile in our eyes, capture it through a lens, share it through writing, or recreate it through brush strokes, one thing is certain. We have a loving God who has given us a beautiful world. And while I’m grateful for talented people like Norman Rockwell, I’m even more grateful that we can know the One who created all talent and beauty. Whether it’s gray misty fog, deep blue skies, snowy white clouds, or a glowing orange and pink sunset, He’s the One who has gifted and inspired. He paints beauty for us every day, and all of our art and creation is just a reflection. I see the glee on the faces of my children as fish swim near their nets of peanut butter crackers, and my heart swells with gratitude at the goodness of our Creator.
Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
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