What's it for you?

Do you have something in your home that makes you happy every time you see/use it? Something that makes you feel the most “like yourself”-- that represents you, in a way, or says a lot about who you are? No matter how trivial or silly you think it may be, I’m sure there’s got to be something…

For me, that object is a little red paintbrush.

I bought it my senior year of college at the MSU bookstore on the 2^nd floor of the Curris Center. It went with me to an art class where I learned how to be a better artist. It assisted me in painting the beautiful imperfections of my classmates (everybody drew/painted everybody). A crooked smile. Bangs that didn’t want to cooperate after a windy walk to class. Eyebrows that could’ve use a waxing, or faint laugh lines that were already beginning to form-- all things you notice when you take the time to really stop and see someone. To search their face. These things weren’t “ugly”…they were what made people who they were. Each unique and beautiful. I learned from that class how good it is when I really take the time to see someone else, and get out of my own comfy, self-centered bubble of life. And I’m thankful my paintbrush helped me slow down and capture every lovely detail.

Now that many years have passed and we’re in our first home, my little red paintbrush sits proudly in our craft room in a tin can with other supplies on a shelf. It’s alert and ready for use at a moments notice. Over the years, it has helped me paint countless craft projects for loved ones, myself, and now, my kiddos. It was used to paint whiskers on Emma when she was a cat for her first Halloween. And just this week I used it to paint signs for her upcoming 3rd birthday party. Since I’m now a mom and housewife, the projects aren’t always as glamorous as they perhaps once were. I don’t exactly have lots of extra time to sit and paint portraits much anymore, but the little paintbrush still gets plenty of use. It’s just used differently. Like, every year I use it to painstakingly seal the grout on our tile floors. It touches up wall paint that gets nicked off every now and then…you get the idea.

I love it. It’s weird that I’ve had something so random for 12 years, but at this point, I don’t think I’ll ever intentionally get rid of it. It makes me reflect on the past chapters of my life, how my life has changed over the years, and gets me excited about the chapters of my life that are yet to come. I may not know all the details of what I will do, or how I will be used, but my “Great Artist” does. God knows what’s ahead for each of us. So, for now, all I have to do is sit on my shelf, alert and ready for use at a moments notice, and be willing and eager to be used however He can use me. Just like my paintbrush. And that just makes me smile.