While I took one look and immediately knew it was refrigerator worthy, he was disappointed in it.
"My art teacher said that if we don't go home with our art, it means it's really good and might be displayed at the school. But I came home with mine," he said sadly.
You see, in our house, my 5th grader is the artist. She has been drawing recognizable things since before she was 2. It was obvious from a very young age that she had been given a natural talent, and her love for it has helped her to develop her talent for art.
My son, not so much. He was still drawing scribbles at 2. Stick people at 5, and now at 7, he still feels inadequate based on the fact that his artwork didn't get displayed at school.
But you see.... for all the reasons I have just explained, I was amazed at this little fox. I thought it was by far the best thing he had ever drawn, and I sat him down and made sure he knew it was going to be displayed here at home. Because it was an accomplishment. It was his best work. It was something to be proud of.
Because you see... as a parent, I'm not looking for perfection.. not in art or academics, and not in behavior.
Perfection is something that is impossible to reach. All I'm looking for is a heart that wants to do his or her personal best.
And a child's best work is always worth displaying on the refrigerator.
And I think that's exactly how God views us as His children. He knows we will never be perfect. And we all have different levels of abilities and natural talents. But He wants our heart.
He wants us to do what we can do, with the best of our ability. He wants us to use our natural talents and develop them further.
He wants us to take what we may think we have no talent in, and still do our best for Him.
Perfection isn't what the Father seeks. It's simply hearts that want to do our personal best, whatever that may be. So keep striving, keep walking, keep making beautiful artwork of your life for Him to see.
That will always make Him a proud parent.
