Creative Musings from a Joyful Heart

As a homeschooling Mom who has always been a science geek I love it that my 7 year old son (affectionately known here as “Big Brother”) adores science.  He has an amazingly curious and inventive mind and it is a pure joy to “do science” with him.  (His words, several times each day- “Can we do Science now?”…. think along the lines of traveling with your kids to the tune of “Are we there yet?” and you’ll “hear” him just as I do) *Ü*

During March and April we brought spring into the house a bit early with a unit study about plants.  One day, when it was especially cold outside, I opened a packet of bean seeds… little did I know they were magic beans, not unlike those that led Jack’s way to the giant!

After our lesson and some inspection under the magnifying glass Big Brother carefully laid several  seeds on a damp paper towel in a bed of wet cotton and placed them in our kitchen window where the warmth of the afternoon sun would wake them from their slumber.  Each day they were dutifully inspected and tended to with care, yet no sprouts appeared.  “Give them time, it will happen” I encouraged, yet inside I began to wonder if the seeds were just too old- they had been stashed away for many years in less than ideal circumstances.   At last, to the delight of both of us, tiny shoots emerged!  Big Brother was simply awed by the fact that those dry, shriveled up old seeds contained life!  What an opportunity to delve into deeper lessons with this little man!  I pray that the spiritual seeds planted will take root deep in his heart and allow him to climb to great heights!

The bean plants are now 12″ tall and tiny buds are forming, I’m not sure if the weather will permit us to transplant them outside before the flowers open or if we will be getting a hands on lesson in pollination, but thanks to the magic seeds these beautiful plants continue to offer a generous portion of food for thought every day.

Thought to ponder for today… so many areas in our lives can become dried up and seem to shrivel away.  Not just spiritually speaking- it could be relationships, contentment….. even our creativity!   Find a way to nurture a part of yourself that has been put away for awhile like those old seeds.  Water it with attention and give it the sunshine of a new enthusiasm… and watch it grow!

     Today was the first day Spring made her appearance here at our little cabin in the woods.  We are still surrounded by snow, but the earth is slowly reclaiming its’ rightful place… swallowing up the icy-white bite by bite.  We enjoyed a walk down the lane; Little One happily sploshing in puddles while Big Brother tromped through the remaining snowdrifts too lost in his own thoughts to hear me call to him as we turned toward the pond.  Just what fills a boys mind when the weather breaks and the warm air opens up the world to him again?  Whatever it is, I imagine he will be lost in those thoughts often in the weeks to come.

     As we walked I noticed the remains of leaves, pressed ‘neath the weight of the winter’s snow,  now almost transparent…  my mind wanders and I wonder how transparent I am?  Do my kids know how much I love them?  Their Daddy?  Do others see how much I love the Lord?  My heart sings with joy… can others hear the melody?  Even when life gets “heavy”, does my light shine from within?

     When I paint, I use transparent layers of color… the colors build upon one another creating new hues and richer tones.  Isn’t that just like life?  Our lives intertwine and each person who crosses our path leaves a trace of themselves on us, adding to our texture. 

Thought to ponder for today… what are you painting on the lives of those around you???  May the brushstrokes I leave on those around me be highlights and not shadows… reflecting the Light source of my life.