Category Archives: Being a Wife

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My Resume’

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I recently applied for a grant for “emerging artists”.

What is an emerging artist?
*an artist who pops (emerges) out of a cake?
*an artist who slips onto shore from primordial slime?
*an artist who suddenly appears after being hidden?
*an artist who is endeavoring to gain acclaim in her medium of choice?

I wasn’t sure about the designation – emerging artist. Maybe that is part of the reason I didn’t get selected for funding. Maybe I haven’t “emerged.”

I had to fill out a resume for my application.

Resume’?

Wife and homemaker – 38 years
Mother – 4 grown (are they ever fully grown?) children
Grandmother – 11 grandchildren

These are the things that define me and my life, yet they are NOT what reviewers are looking for on a resume’. They want to know what I have done “professionally”.

That means work I was paid for in legal tender.

I have been paid relatively little for my art work, but that has not stopped me from enjoying the process as well as the results.

The resume’ has made me think about being an artist and my motivation for creating art.

My life verse is Romans 12:2 (NLT)

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

This influences my art work just as it does every part of my life. I must not be concerned about recognition from the art establishment (scary thought?). I must create from the place where I am a new creation. This may mean I am never “in” – or it may mean recognition. Michelangelo, widely considered one of the greatest artists of all time, wrote that he was compelled to create art by God. His statue Pieta was conceived from Michelangelo’s devotion to Jesus and Mary. One can hardly look at that masterpiece without sensing a divine inspiration.

Francis Chan writes in his book about the Holy Spirit – The Forgotten God – that our resume should look like the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Resume’ – Gayle Woody – birth – 1951, re-birth – 1957

Love – 56 years of experiencing God’s love,
expresses God’s love when she forgets about self
Joy – 56 years of knowing the joy of relationship with her Heavenly Father
joy spills over to others when her heart is thankful
Peace – 56 years of experiencing God’s peace which passes understanding
peaceful when her eyes are fixed on Jesus

These are the life qualities that really matter. Our time spent with children and grandchildren have eternal value. Nothing can take away the love, joy, and peace that comes from the Holy Spirit.

My art work is temporary. I have told my friends and family that when they are tired of the art I have “blessed” them with, they are free to dispose of it.

I plan to continue to create art. I plan to honor God through my artistic expression.

I want my resume’ to be filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

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I Don’t Know All the Answers

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“Why?”

Because God is God and I am not.

That is why I don’t know all the answers:
* It is not because I am not smart enough (which is true, by the way)
* It is not because I have not read the right kind of books (which is also true. I read all the time but “The Belly Button Book” only answers belly button questions)
* It is not because I have not faced the situations you face. (again, true, but inconsequential)

God is God and I am not.

I have two very dear friends who are facing circumstances that are beyond my understanding. In both of these families there is great suffering. The suffering is not the result of their sin, but SIN resulting from the FALL.

These are folks who love God and seek to serve Him whole heartedly.

They have been praying, friends have been praying, whole churches have been praying, people literally around the world are praying.

The suffering continues.

Why?

I don’t know all the answers.

I remember sitting on the floor in a large room at the University of Illinois – Urbana in 1973. I was seated on the floor because the room was full of college students like me. We were waiting to hear Elizabeth Elliot speak. Mrs. Elliot had lost her husband when he was murdered, after they had been married less than two years, by tribal people they were trying to reach with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When I heard her speak that day, her second husband had recently died of cancer.

Why? I wondered.

As Elizabeth Elliot spoke, a calm assurance emanated from her person. I have never forgotten what she said. “Many of you are facing grievous situations now in your families, your schools, even with your friends. Some of you are broken hearted and feel that God has abandoned you. I don’t know all the answers to your questions…. but I know the One who does.”

What a powerful truth! God has the answer.

1 Corinthians 13:12-13 (NLT)

12 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

I have found the three words listed in verse 13 to be the key to my unanswered questions.

1) faith – I have faith that God is God and He is good. Terrible things happen, but God is GOOD and He can use those very circumstances FOR my good. I still don’t understand, but I trust God.
2) hope – when it is darkest, hope is the anchor that keeps me from drifting off into darkness. My hope is based on God’s faithfulness to me as His child.
3) love – God loves me and He has promised to carry me through all that I face in life. God’s love never fails.

Verse 12 says –
“All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” Someday when I am in God’s presence, I will know why.

I don’t know all the answers…..but I know the One who does.

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Butterflies, Briars, and Blessings – and Thank you

I “re-posted” this blog written by a dear friend. It speaks so well to the issue of the fear we have of disappointing others. Anne Marie and Abigail are following God’s plan for them, because they have clear priorities and are following those.

I know you will appreciate Anne Marie’ honesty!

Butterflies, Briars, and Blessings – and Thank you.