Art with a Heart

Do you ever catch yourself out giving your best to strangers? Once, I was putting mascara on, and one of my children asked me where we were going? We weren’t going anywhere, but clearly, I had gotten to a place where make-up meant we were leaving the house. Tired-Mom-Face was for home days. Poor children. Look, mascara is nothing special or necessary if you have lush, dark lashes, but for those of us who have light ones, it can be nothing short of an answer to prayer. Apparently, I was only putting in extra effort when the outside world would see me. I have bent over to help a child with his maths only for him to wave his hand and block his nose so that my morning coffee breath would not render him unconscious. This priceless family I call mine are always around. They see me first thing in the morning, last thing at night and during all the ups and downs of a normal day. We are so used to one another. Our homes should be places of unconditional love and acceptance, but it’s all too easy to relax around family to the point that standards may not be what they could be anymore.

The patterns of our days become our lives. All the little habits add up to give a clear, full picture to store in our memories. I would say that I am a person who values the newness of life, simplicity, wholesome living, dreams coming true, and beauty. If I am so relaxed at home and saving all the best parts for people who don’t even know me, it is a great pity. The values I hold dear are for me and mine, first and foremost. If we cannot have some revival under the roof of our dwelling first, how can we release it into the streets around us?

What about dressing up for me, for my children, for my True Love? How about brushing my teeth before I read stories and teach? Why don’t I put a little effort in for today and for all the very normal days to come so that when my children have long flown the nest, they remember a mother who smelt good, dressed becomingly, laughed with her eyes, gave generously, spoke kindly, lived her values behind closed doors, cooked favourite meals, played like a child and used her lavender-scented hands for hugging, holding, brushing hair and turning the pages of books as she read aloud.

I wouldn’t call myself an artist, not the well-understood version of an artist, not in the slightest. I do, however, acknowledge the gift God gives each of us to imagine, design, create and promote beauty in our homes and beyond. It’s not as overwhelming or difficult as we might think. My sister and I were discussing the way we dress and agreed that a new day is always a chance to begin again. The clean palette of our naked bodies as we remove our nightwear and decide what would be appropriate clothing for this particular day can be a significant moment. Perhaps the ground is even holy; after all, getting dressed is about adorning a precious temple. Will we start with the delicate, navy underwear or a sensible, full skin-coloured pair of knickers, or will it be the brooks with the sunflowers on them? And then on with colours and textures, the swish of a shawl, a string of beads, hair done up in an untidy bun, those favourite earrings and the faithful shoes that go with everything. We might not be painting a masterpiece, but our mind and heart engage to create a look that will make an impact. We dress not so that anyone can admire or say ‘well done.’ No. We dress because it’s fun, necessary, and one of many creative outlets available to us, and it’s kind on people’s eyes. We can be a work of art that breathes and moves—no paint required. Before we have even moved into our home or community for the day, we have been mindful and produced something: Art with a heart.

Let’s move into the house now that we have paired the salmon and mustard on our frames in such a way the children are convinced we must be expecting guests. There are dozens of drawers we could organise, shelves we could fill, or recipes we could whip up, but to keep the creative flow moving, I have discovered that it is helpful just to choose one thing. What do you notice first? I have been noticing my pot plants. Of course, they do not speak to me, but it’s as if they beg to be grouped, arranged, turned this way and that, some high up, others low down so that a living still life is created. I cannot paint the scene, but the way the leaves and blooms contrast, blend and merge in a unique display makes my heart happy. And you know the saying, “If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!”

I love to make fudge. Whilst I stir, I get ideas! Each batch looks exactly the same as the one before, but I threw in a cupful of roughly chopped almonds the other day. And maybe that’s another thing – in the midst of all the ordinary and familiar, we can ring the changes. The unexpected, the little thoughts, the experiments and changes of plan can add sparkle to our monotony. Our routines are as comforting as the linen on our beds, but who wouldn’t feel pleasure and delight if they noticed chocolate on their pillow on a Thursday night?

If you know me, please do not panic. I do not even own sunflower knickers. I am giving nothing away at all. I was simply encouraging you to engage yourself. It’s all too easy to get into auto-pilot mode. Just because you do not class yourself as an artist in the sense that you don’t sing, dance, paint, write or play an instrument doesn’t mean you cannot open your eyes in the morning and use all the raw materials available to you to create something in your home and with your life that will touch our world. I bet you have an endless capacity for unleashing loveliness like nobody else can. I believe we have the authority to set the tone in our homes, and we are anointed and so very able to create inspiring, safe, comfortable spaces for our families and those we love. It’s always good to reassess. How are things looking? Did you give your best to strangers?

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Hi, I'm Taryn, and I live in Zimbabwe. I have one fun, kind, large-hearted, hard-working husband and together, we have eight children - seven from the womb, one grafted in miraculously. My days are filled with home-schooling, food-making and laundry, but there is always time for reading, writing, rearranging furniture and connecting with friends, old and new.

These are the books I'm reading:

Bible - Job, Proverbs and John at the moment.

Waymaker by Anne Voskamp

Just Do by Brandon Janous

Larkrise to Candleford by Flora Thompson

Mama Bear Apologetics (Guide to Sexuality) by Hillary Morgan Ferrer with Amy Davison

and I've ordered a book called Wintering by Katherine May.