Significant

I've been trying to think of something significant to do with the walls in the girls' new playroom.  I don't just want to paint them.  I want to do something unique...something that means something.  There's just one problem, I am not artistic when it comes to drawing.  I feel pretty artistic when it comes to photography, but not with a pencil, crayon, marker, or paint brush.  It's just not my forte.

Significant...

When something has meaning...

It stands out from the ordinary...

 Marked by a moment, thought, or feeling that is worthy...

I want the the things I do, the things I say, even the stuff that's on our walls to be

significant.

As I was staring at the playroom walls over spring break, a thought came to me.  What if we used the main wall in the playroom as a canvas for our hand prints.   Whenever something significant happens, let's mark the occasion by placing our painted hands on the wall.  Let's date it, and as time goes by, our wall will change.  Those little hands will start to grow and who knows...maybe there will be more hand prints one day.  A wall full of our hands.  I thought it was the perfect idea.

So, on April 7, 2013, we all painted our hands yellow.  There was paint everywhere!  It didn't take long to figure out that 1 year olds don't like to open their hands, spread their fingers, and let you have your way. As a matter of fact, neither do 3 year olds!  None the less, we got our canvas started.  Before I wrote anything on the wall, Rick and I had the following conversation:

Me: What is today's date?

Rick: April 7th

Me: Ok, so I don't mess this up: 3-7-13

Rick: No! It's 4-7-13!

Me: Oh yeah!  I'm so glad I didn't write that!

So, I carefully wrote the date that marked the last day of a fun-filled spring break.  We all looked at the wall, high-fived its appeasing aesthetic and left it to dry.  

A few hours later, I stopped to notice how nicely the paint was drying and I couldn't believe it.  

Right there, as plain as day...

the incorrect date that wouldn't happen for 10 more days:

4-17-13!

After everything I did to make sure I did it right, I still did it wrong.  

In all of our celebrating...

In all of our finger-painting...

In all of the joy and chaos that defines who we are as a family...

I had written the wrong date.

 

But actually, I couldn't be happier that I did because now...

the very first (of hopefully many) finger-painted hands that will adorn our playroom wall have marked an occasion that instantly became even more significant.

I see God in the ways we fill our days, not the dates on which they happened.

Love,

Mary