WE NEED YOUR ART

It has been such a difficult week in our country. My husband and I were enjoying a musical Thursday night near downtown Dallas, just a few miles away from the ambush on our Dallas police officers. Wherever the weight of the world hits, it always feels too close to home.  The weight of the tragedy feels like it has just kind of made my heart a little numb, a little afraid…like my bright hope seemed to get the wind knocked out of it, you know? We are all feeling the weight of the world we live in.

In regards to my writing and doing what I do to encourage hearts, I felt like I had no words to offer. My own heart needs words in times like these…my own heart needs words I can’t seem to find. I couldn’t seem to find my groove all weekend as echoes of the news remained on my heart.

Well last night, our little family gathered around the TV after dinner to watch the Women’s Gymnastic Olympic Trials. I persuaded my boys to watch gymnastics with me, and I think I have them fully locked in. My oldest son knows all the gymnasts names better than I do, and together, we nervously watched as the Olympic Team was named. As I sat there watching these gymnasts do what they do, it took me back to my first little girl dream which was to be an Olympic gymnast. I literally grew out of that dream by getting too tall for the sport! As I watched these young women and thought about all the training they go through, all the pressure they handle so beautifully, and simply just the beauty of what they do…I was so intrigued. And you know what I realized? They took my mind and heart off the hard stuff of the world and brought a little light into my own heart.

It got me thinking about you and me. WE NEED YOUR ART. In a world that’s broken, violent, scary, big, and chaotic, we need the joy of what you do. We need your beauty. We need that thing that God has put in you that makes you unique. We need you to do those things you do so well, but that maybe you feel like don’t matter much. YOUR ART MATTERS. Whether your art is flip-flopping across the floor, dancing on a stage, working behind the scenes, arranging flowers (that’s for you, Mom and Granny), taking photos (yep, Katie), or being a mom….we need your art because your art brightens our hearts. Your art lightens our load, takes our mind off the hard stuff, and breathes fresh light and hope into our worlds. Whether your art feels “spiritual” or not…it’s all spiritual because God can use your art to bless other hearts in ways you may not see.

So Simone, Gabby, Aly, Madison, Laurie, Ragan…Team USA…thank you for gracing us with your gifts and taking our hearts off the world for awhile. Your beauty gives our hearts a boost. God uses you to keep us inspired, to bring joy to our hearts, and to brighten the hope we know we have. We look forward to cheering you on in Rio!

And to you, sweet one, go in your gifts. Keep doing what you’re doing because God uses YOU to keep us inspired, to bring joy to our hearts, and to brighten the hope we know we have. Sometimes we all just need a little lift, and your gifts give us a boost. Keep shining brightly.