My View from this porch

It's been said that nothing worth having comes easy. That may be true, but here's what's also true... we are each freely given gifts worth having. They are very often those things that come easy to us, so easy that we don't assign them much value if we don't realize their significance. I love creating functional, uncluttered spaces and finding beautiful design solutions. Of course at times I stay awake turning options over and over in my head, but other times, the solution takes no time at all presenting itself. Some days I have to pinch myself because it's still a bit of a wonder to me that I make a living doing this because other people need, and want it, but do not enjoy trying to do it themselves!

And I am delighted when I hear, "Wow! I love that! I would have never thought of it!" It tells me that what I shared was valuable to someone. Knowing I have left a client with something tangible that can make their day brighter, their load lighter, their joy larger is its own reward for me. But then there's often a gap between what I can dream for you and what I can do for you—after all, what will it cost and what is it worth—is it creative enough? how much is too much? And then this zinger creeps in... “Isn't this too much fun to be of any importance? What difference are you really making?”

Recently, on a rare quiet moment on the porch pictured here, God took the loose ends of those tangled threads of thought and tied them up into one big beautiful bow for me:

“Notice the creative detail that I put into all that’s around you? I make things functional and beautiful, too," He whispered. "You got that as a gift from me. If you will lean into how I gifted you, have fun and be generous with it, you will fulfill this Purpose: I want the world to know me and I created you in just this way to give some certain insight into who I Am in your little corner of this world.”

Do you ever feel inclined to devalue what comes naturally to you? Do your creative pursuits ever feel frivolous? I wonder how He felt when he designed the masterpiece on that porch? What do you need that someone else has to share? He makes it easy...He gave us gifts, to share, so that we will need and want to connect with each other, and, ultimately, so we can find our significance in Him.