Digital reference composite for a painting
2017
A fellow artist with many children told me that she was struggling to find balance. Her tone hinted of regret that she hadn’t achieved the level of artistic skill, influence, or independence that she longed for. Family, essentially, got in the way.
“You are an excellent artist,” I said. “Keep working at it. But the brushes I use are nothing like yours. We both create scenes on canvas, but you create lives. Men can provide for, protect, and influence their children, but women share God’s power to bring lives into the world and nurture them. That partnership gifts you with abilities, insights, spiritual sensitivity and a tigerish protectiveness to deal with the challenges of raising your family.
“Some artists may create works that are valued for a time and perhaps provide some form of income. But women can birth and rear dynasties, influencing untold numbers of individual lives and the broad rivers of eternity. Nothing can be greater.
“So paint. Be an artist in any medium, and enjoy what peace, renown and satisfaction it may bring. These are gifts. Struggle to rise to the top of your profession if you want, but do not regret the time you spend on your first destiny. Men cannot do what you can. You were created by God to create lives in partnership with Him and your husband. The time you spend with your children will feed your artistic insights and make monuments of your work that generations will cherish. But remember that emulating a sunset on canvas in no way compares to the beauty of the infinite sunsets with which God continuously graces the world, nor can it compare to the smile of a child being molded by a faithful woman into the image of God.
“In this way, you will find balance.”
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