Handmade

If a child handed you a drawing of you,

Would you criticize the green complexion they gave you?

Point out that your hair doesn’t defy gravity and extend off to the sides?

That your neck isn’t that long and your head that big?

When your child proudly states that they drew your beautiful round belly and your large strong hands,

Do you yell and state that it’s not the right proportions or lecture them saying it’s disrespectful to even attempt without fully understanding physics and artistic techniques?

Or do you smirk at the idea that this child with all they had to offer drew what they love:

You

And while you see scribbles and questionable marks

Your child looks at your face.

Expectant

Curious

Anxious

Praying in their heart

“I really hope you like it”

And of course you smile and appreciate it

Because who are you to break and crush the innocence of a child who tried with all their might to present their love in the best way they could.

With all they knew and all they understood, this small stick figure of you was all they had to show.

Plus, you know what it’s like to be disheartened.

To give your best and be told it wasn’t enough.

To be berated with, “this was all you could do?”

And be blamed for your limitations.

To be beaten with shame.

To be stripped of innocence and now cohabitate with fear.

You know what it’s like to broken hearted,

to not just fail in the abilities you didn’t have but face the disappointment of the love you didn’t receive

So you hold the picture closely.

Look at the details, the drawing, the meaning

You embrace all the love that child can give in a disfigured 2D artistic expression

And you take it and you place on the fridge for all to see

For all to admire

The greatest act of love a child can make.

Simple but earnestly created…

And to think we are still children

Creating simple art.

Trying to love others

To be kind and generous

Trying to share what we have and support where we can.

Giving all that we have to offer

And the world crushes you.

To say it’s not enough.

To say that God would condemn what you’ve made

That God would reject what you’ve done

That God would crumble your art and claim that your innocence and ignorance has no space here.

That your lack of skills proves your lack of love or devotion or admiration or honor or respect

They say those things

And they are wrong

Because God, like a good Father, smiles with tears welded into his eyes admiring all you have to offer.

Jesus took the weight of perfection so that you could just be creative

The jewels and treasures in heaven waiting for you are in the shape of a large fridge with all you made for Him on display.

And He points to it and proudly says,

“My child made that for me”