About that plastic knife

When we are born, we are given a blank canvas. Over the years, colors are added. At times, the colors are soft and pretty. Other times, they are harsh and rather ugly.

As we age, we see that both the pretty and the ugly colors have created a picture of our lives. The colors have blended to tell a story … our testimony.

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One evening, while attending the First Daughters Soul Care Retreat, I found myself seated in the grand ballroom of Glen Eyrie Castle alongside 90 writers and speakers. We were provided with a blank canvas, paints, and a plastic knife. Yes, not a paintbrush, but a simple plastic knife.

I was totally out of my comfort zone. I can paint a picture with words but never with paint.

My friend, Casey Hilty, is a master designer of anything artsy. She stood in front of the massive Indiana Bedford Stone fireplace, giving instructions and directions on what colors to dip into and what they meant. We would decide on our design. I was already lost.

I felt my hand cringe with uncertainty. I looked over to see what my fellow artists were doing. (Oh, the fine art of comparison.) I fought to open the paint. What if I made a mess?

Some around our table seemed to be right at home in this evening of creativity to bring out their inner artist. I was totally out of my comfort zone. Art has never been my forte.

I did love dipping the white dishwashing detergent bottle into paint when I was in kindergarten to create a clothes sprinkler for my mother for Christmas. I found it in her laundry room cabinet while sorting through her things after she passed. I think the ashtray I made for my dad must have been thrown away along with his cigarettes after he gave up smoking.

Back to the present day to find my inner artist with praise and painting.

Casey had us dip our knives into navy paint and dab it onto the canvas, making any design we wanted. The navy color would represent our strength and power.

Next came the gray, reminding us of what was found in our lives to give us peace and comfort.

Oh, the beauty of the color of sea glass, which would symbolize the beauty of worship in our lives.

As I dabbed on the coral paint, I saw the beauty of creating and serving.

We stopped for a bit to allow the colors to dry before adding white onto each color. There is where healing and cleansing would be found in our lives.

Again, a brief moment to allow the paint to dry. The colors began to tell a story.

Next came the much-anticipated moment when we got to dip our plastic knives into the gilded gold paint. What would we do with the gold? We would paint a cross.

The gold cross was our testimony. We began to see that we would be given a new purpose if we allowed God to hold our plastic knife. Our purpose was shown to be different from what we thought it would be. He was the one creating a beautiful picture of our lives, each one of us unique.

Photo by Janet Hart Leonard

Life would bring both soft and harsh colors, but blending them would create a beautiful picture that would give hope and inspire.

I often say that when we allow God to hold our pen, He can write a much better story than we ever could. Now, I might add that when we allow God to hold our plastic knife, He can create a much more beautiful picture than we ever could … if only we trust Him.

It’s all about trust. Are you trusting Him with your plastic knife? Gilded gold paint is ready to create a beautiful testimony on your life’s canvas.

Janet Hart Leonard can be contacted at janethartleonard@gmail.com or followed on Facebook or Instagram (@janethartleonard). Visit janethartleonard.com.