Day 23–Creativity

*Thank you, Crystal Sharp, for sharing your joy and love for serving others through your talents and abilities and business! Be sure to check out Crystal’s Facebook Page.*

Lord,

Thank you for creation itself and the incredible gifts and talents You so generously entrust to me. May I appreciate and develop these talents, always recognizing that they come from You and remain Yours. Guide me in using them for the benefit of everyone that I touch, so that they may be more aware of Your creative presence and develop the creativity entrusted to them for the good of others. Help me also to use Your talents to bring a creative spark and new possibilities to Your world, living out my call to be an integral part of Your creative force. Amen.

This prayer is one that I say often.  Ever since I was a little girl, I have created art.  I have always enjoyed giving my art to others whether it was a little drawing, painting, or poem.  But just over three years ago, God blessed me with a talent that I never expected to be blessed with.

In October 2009, my oldest daughter (who was then my only daughter) wanted to be Minnie Mouse for Halloween.  I found the cutest red with white polka dot dress at a thrift store.  So I went looking for the infamous Minnie Mouse ears and bow.  I looked everywhere I could locally and online.  I just never was able to find a pair that met my standards or my budget.   So after searching online for how to make Minnie Mouse ears, I made a pair out of a black headband, felt, and a piece of red with white polka dot ribbon.  And that is when God blessed me with the gift of bow making.

I then started creating bows for my daughter for Christmas.  That led to several family members and friends asking for me to create bows for the lovely young ladies in their lives.  And that is how my small at-home bow business began.

Every time I create a new bow, I pray over the bow and the child receiving it.  I pray that the love I put into each creation can be felt by those who wear the bows I make.  For me, bow making isn’t about making money while being a stay-at-home mama of four wonderful kids.  It is about sharing love with others and praising God in all that I do.

I have had several blessings since I started making bows from the many wonderful friends I have made, have been able to donate bows to many different fundraisers, and had the opportunity to do something I love.  But my biggest blessing is being able to share the love of God with others with a simple piece of ribbon.  Because sometimes actions show God’s love more than words.   And that is my goal–to show God’s love in all that I do. He blessed me with the talent.  So I give the glory to Him.