3.27.2008

Family

"I've come to learn that our families are a canvas on which we paint our greatest hopes -- imperfect and sloppy, for we are all amateurs at life, but if we do not focus too much on our mistakes, a miraculous picture emerges. And we learn that it's not the beauty of the image that warrants our gratitude -- it's the chance to paint." ~Richard Paul Evans [Finding Noel]

My friend Jacque has this quote on her blog and I loved it so much that I wanted to use it too. What a lovely thought -- that our family, sloppy and imperfect as it is, [and really, aren't they all?] is slowly but surely creating a wonderful picture.

Just the opportunity to 'paint' is a blessing. And that's how I think of my family -- my most precious, my nicest and completely undeserved blessing. Their love, support and ongoing forgiveness for my many shortcomings allows me to continue to paint, despite the fact that I am very much an amateur at this business of living.

By the time we're done with this artistic effort, it will surely be a most beautiful image, filled with our gratitude for the chance to paint.

**Disclaimer: not our family [picture via flickr]

14 comments:

Hayley said...

jan- i love how inspiring you are! thanks for sharing this uplifting message!

Ashley said...

The Dobb family lives in that house. They moved here just a few years ago. Thanks for sharing that beautiful family quote; I really like it!

Unknown said...

that is an awesome quote, i love it!

. . . . . . . . . said...

And, once again, amen. Our painting is a little disturbing (people in mullet wigs, unmasking weirdness and all that), but it's a lot of fun!

Nat Lud said...

So true. I used to think that only other people had family problems and it would never surface in my own. HA! Each fam has it's own quirks. But we love each other anyway, right? :)

Natalie Scott said...

I have to disagree on the "completely undeserved" part, but what a sweet post!

Families are wonderful. Imperfect as they are :)

Jacqueline said...

I so glad that you loved that quote as much as I do. When I grow up I want to be like you, so having you like my quote puts me one step closer, Right? The older I get the more I understand that my family is the most important group of people I share my time with.

Darleen said...

Beautiful! I need to send this to my mom.

tiburon said...

Great post Jan - you are always so positive and deep. Just what I needed to read today :)

hoLLy said...

i love the imagery of the canvas. beautiful!

Sandy said...

Hi Jan,
Thanks for leaving a comment about my kids on my blog. I appreciate it. They are so very special to me.

I am glad you come and check it out, please feel free to come by as often as you would like. I have stopped in to your blog some also and I really love your outlook on life and how important your family is to you. Your such an inspiration. I really enjoy what I read on here. :)

Kristi said...

I love that picture and your thoughts! And I also wanted to say I LOOOOOVE your piano skills woman! You honestly have such a wonderful gift and I truly do appreciate you sharing it with us...

Hacking it up said...

What an awesome quote!I'm all about family!!!--thanks for sharing!

Cammie said...

Very nice, I love the, "imperfect and sloppy" part of the quote. So true!