Knowing Who You Are!

Today, I want to share a canvas I did for my oldest daughter who is 14.  I did this canvas for her out of my complete love for her and my desire for who to know who she is, especially at this pivotal time in her life.  I realize I do not take the corner on this market when I say dealing with a teenager is an experience like NO OTHER!! The old adage that my mother used to use, that I swore I would never use, "patience is a virtue," quickly comes to mind!!!

Coming from the view point that I really didn't know who I was until I was an adult, I think it is imperative that a parent help a child understand who they are in Christ at a early age so they don't fall into the pit traps of peer pressure that is rampant these days with teens!  With everything from looks, clothes, cellphones, cars, friends, etc...they are pressed and pulled on from every side to "fit in!"  Fit in with whom?  And why?  I look at it now with wisdom of an adult, someone who has been there and someone who FULLY knows who they are in Christ!  I look back now to those teen years with regret of all the time lost I spent trying to "fit in" to things, that in the broader spectrum, don't mean a thing when it comes to a relationship with Christ!  Those "things" that people try to fit into will pass away, but Christ and my life therein, are eternal! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

My daughter is a beautiful young lady and like all teens, desperately wants to fit in and not stand out. But I've told her we were chosen before the foundations of this earth and called to stand out, to be separate, to be a peculiar people for Him!  We aren't to be like others and that's what makes us special and able to shine brightly for Him!  People will know you are His and He is yours!  With that in your very heart and down in your belly, you can conquer ALL things and be able to stand strong in those times of doubt!!

On this canvas I started with laying down wonderful pattern papers and then putting on a light wash of gesso When I do that technique, it's not only about the texture, I like to also see the patterns peep through.  I then added light touches of acrylic paints here and there to give the color effect I was looking for.  I added some texture stamping in the background and then I used some molding paste with a teal acrylic paint mixed in through a wonderful Crafter's Workshop stencil.  I wanted to depict "her" somehow so I drew a likeness of her on some book paper and then colored her in using Faber-Castell Gelatos and shaded with Faber-Castell Big Brush Pens (two of my favorite products).  I finished with some word stamps I wanted her to think on and the saying "she realized it was her time to shine!"  I liked how it turned out and I think she did too!

Do you know who you are on the inside?  I want to encourage you today, if you don't, look in God's Word and He will show you ALL you are in Christ!  You were wonderfully and fearfully made into His likeness and that means YOU ARE SPECIAL, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL and YOU ARE LOVED!!

Blessings!