All families have talents, the gifts God has given to them to use for His glory, and for us to appreciate. Some families are athletic, some are musical, some are artistic, and some are a wonderful combination of many different talents and skills.
In our family, the arts definitely edge out any ability for athleticism. We do not run fast or throw well. When we pitch a Frisbee, it usually zings crazily off to the side, spending more time rolling away on its edge rather than spinning gracefully and smoothly through the air.
Once when he was two, Luke swung a bat with perfect aim – hitting me squarely in the nose.
At least it was a little red plastic bat.
But when it comes to drawing, our girls have sweet gifts. Which certainly don’t come from me, but instead run strong and true through their daddy.
They absolutely love drawing, and I honestly can’t remember a day when one, or all of them, haven’t spent some time drawing, whether it was hours, or just minutes.
They produce beautiful art in vast quantities – far more than I can keep and store.
Sometimes we give it away.
Sometimes we simply admire it for a little while.
And beauty is found in other artistic talents as well… like music.
In some families, music is a special way of expressing joy, togetherness, love. Of praising God with their voices or with instruments, like piano or guitar.
We love singing, and harmonizing has long been a tradition, literally for generations, through my side of the family.
We don’t just sing Happy Birthday in unison! Nope! We must harmonize it!
There is the beauty and elegance of dance!
We are particularly fond of ballet. But there are many, many different types of dancing in which people excel at demonstrating beauty.
And then there is the beauty of poetry.
Several years ago the children and I began memorizing poems as part of our school day. I think to date we have memorized 55 poems! Short ones and long ones. Funny ones and sad ones.
I love the musicality of them. The rhythm, the cadence. I love the way the words are edible! We wrap our mouths around them and savor their delicate consonants and vowels.
And some of them are achingly beautiful..
like this one..
The Destruction of Sennacherib by Lord Byron
The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold,
And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold;
And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea,
When the blue wave rolls nightly on deep Galilee.
Like the leaves of the forest when Summer is green,
That host with their banners at sunset were seen:
Like the leaves of the forest when Autumn hath blown,
That host on the morrow lay withered and strown.
For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast,
And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed;
And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill,
And their hearts but once heaved, and for ever grew still!
And there lay the steed with his nostril all wide,
But through it there rolled not the breath of his pride;
And the foam of his gasping lay white on the turf,
And cold as the spray of the rock-beating surf.
And there lay the rider distorted and pale,
With the dew on his brow, and the rust on his mail:
And the tents were all silent, the banners alone,
The lances unlifted, the trumpet unblown.
And the widows of Ashur are loud in their wail,
And the idols are broke in the temple of Baal;
And the might of the Gentile, unsmote by the sword,
Hath melted like snow in the glance of the Lord.
See what I mean?!
Beautiful!!
What are the talents of beauty, the lovely gifts your family has been given?
Do you see them?
Are you using them?
Use them to worship the One Who has given them to you!
