The Best Is Yet To Come

The Artisan Soul by Erwin McManus

Ch. 7 “Masterpiece: A New Humanity”

Life is the art form that is most valuable.

We are going to take a mental trip into the future.  Imagine 5 years from now. 

How old are your kids?

What are they doing?

What is their personality like?  Character?

What are you doing?

Now imagine 10 yrs into the future.

What leaves an impression in your mind?  What do you want to see in each child’s life? In your life?

Now is the time to start moving towards those ideals.  What can you start/continue doing now as you aim towards that future target?  Set annual goals in different areas of your child’s life—physical, social, educational, spiritual, emotional—that you would like to see them be exposed to &/or learn.

Deut 6:4-7  “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! ⁵ You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. ⁶ These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”

p. 171  “Michelangelo once said, ‘In every block of marble I see a statue as plain as though it stood before me, shaped and perfect in attitude and action.  I have only to hew away the rough walls that imprison the lovely apparition to reveal it to the other eyes as mine see it.’”

Like Michelango, do you have an image of your child in the future?  How can you “hew away” the rough areas and help them mature?  How can you help them grow in the fruit of the Spirit?

Galatians 5:22-23  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control...”

p. 172  “We know we’ve seen a work of art when a life inspires us to be more – to live more fully and authentically.”

Who has inspired you in your role as a mom?  Who do you think of contacting when you wonder how to solve a “mom/child” problem?

p. 174  “This is how Jesus chose to introduce himself to the world...” (turning water into wine at a local wedding)...”It all begins at a wedding.  A celebration is taking place.  I imagine there was dancing and drinking and laughter.  It is nice to know that Jesus spent time enjoying experiences like this.”

“Surely God has more important concerns than our enjoyment of life.  But it’s not outside God’s intention or his desire to meet us in the common places of everyday life.  And it’s possible that the same God who makes the blind see finds equal pleasure in increasing our happiness.”(!!!!-my addition)

Do you believe God wants you to be happy? To enjoy life?

p. 176-177   “Everything we create reveals who we are....When our souls are informed by human emotions that reflect the worst in us, we find ourselves creating a world that not even we ourselves would ever want to live in...But when the human spirit is shaped by the highest human virtues...we create a beautiful world.” “...Part of this journey is learning how to turn the water into wine.”

How do you cope in times of stress?  (glass of wine, pray, forgive myself, talk w/child and ask their forgiveness, get advice from someone who can help

p. 182-3  “We teach children convergent thinking and discourage divergent thinking.  Our entire educational system is built on convergent thinking.  Education has been reduced to the organization and dispensing of data...You only have to be a parent to know that children are naturally imaginative and creative and that a huge part of parenting is teaching children to color within the lines.”

How do you encourage your child’s natural imagination and creativity?  Are you inspired to be more creative because of them?  Do you remember childhood dreams you had?  Teach them to think by asking “why”.

p. 184  “Einstein noted, ‘The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives.’”

p. 188 “The artisan soul believes in the best in all of us, and therefore refuses to accept anything less for themselves.”

This sentence pretty much summarizes the book.

Do you believe in the best for your child? For yourself?

Start believing at the feet of Jesus:

Luke 10:38-42 “ ³⁸ Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” ⁴¹ But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; ⁴² but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.’”

Spend time with Jesus, even if it’s a few minutes every day.

Prayer

Jesus, may my life be a work of art, and may I always live as an artist at work, in whatever I do, always learning and giving.  Amen.