Daily i’m surprised by what my children can do. I’m surprised just by what they choose to do. Sister is in a creative phase lately. One I’m hoping to encourage and cultivate. Even if it means going through a whole pad of painting paper a week.

I’ve had fun watching her drawings develop from squiggles to rudimentary forms. I was worried for awhile there, she wasn’t drawing anything remotely representational  while brother was already drawing fairly convincing bees.

Well yesterday Sis sits down with a piece of construction paper and some markers. Draws a heart then puts a line through it. “Interesting,” I thought. “Where is this going? Broken heart? Is this some sort of art therapy sessions she’s creating? Are we coloring feelings?”

A dear friend was over at the time, so she and I kept chatting until Sister walked up, chest puffed with pride, sly smile on her face and held up her artwork.

She gifts the Sacred Heart of Jesus to our friend and says, “Wait!” Then comes back again in a few minutes with this:

Now, if you’re reading this and you’ve been to my house, attended our wedding, or know Jim Janknegt you may recognize these. They’re Sister’s interpretations of his Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart icons which we have hanging in our home now.

This warmed my heart. Twice.

First, because, well, look at that!

Second, because sometimes I think things aren’t sinking in, and then I’m reminded suddenly that they are. I was chatting with a friend about the upcoming holiday that gives some of us the heeby-geebies. We were talking of how pervasive the scaring and the death and general creepiness is. It may seem innocent enough, but its out there and the kids see it and it seeps in. It seeps into their hearts and minds. What they see in general seeps in, sets up a framework through which to view the world. And what can we do? It’s everywhere. Sister pointed out a neighbor’s witch and ghost decor and my quick response was, “Well, some people like to celebrate that way. But to me, it’s not as beautiful as other things, and I prefer beautiful things.”

I want what seeps in to be generally more beautiful, to speak to whats true. And this so that as their framework through which to view the world is built what they seek out is the good and true and beautiful. And I hope their framework is so steeped with beauty that there is no space for the ugly, which is sin and death, to seep in and stay. Life happens, scary things happen, we get hurt, yes. But if we seek out the good and beautiful and true, if we set up the framework rightly, then perhaps we can cope and rise above and LOVE.

I’m daily grateful for the beauty we have thanks for Mr. Janknegt. Check him out at http://www.bcartfarm.com. He and his wife, Lissa, are both wonderfully talented artist.

Here are the originals

Immaculate Heart of Mary by James Janknegt

Sacred Heart of Jesus by James Janknegt