Some assignments from the Holy Spirit are just for me, for my husband and me as a couple and some with our kids as a family. Although my husband and I physically went on the trip to Korea, our kids were invited on the mission, too.
The Holy Spirit planted an idea of how our kids would join us. He reminded me that we are artisans made with wisdom and creativity by the Master Craftsman Himself, and since He lives inside of us, we, too, are craftsmen and can use them as gifts for others.
So, while the kids were on Thanksgiving and Christmas break, I invited them to collaborate on a joint project. I asked them to peruse Amazon's website and see if any paint-by-number canvases "spoke" to them. A piece of art that the Holy Spirit was leading them to paint for someone they had never met. I gave them a few guidelines. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit what message was supposed to be expressed through the artwork, connect it with a Bible verse, translate it into Korean, and then to provide a detailed description of the recipient so we know who to pass it on to.
Even though the purpose of this project was to bless someone else, I enjoyed every minute of it. Sitting around the kitchen table with my family, doing something creative together, and listening to all the conversations made my heart smile. I loved how they encouraged each other and accepted pointers from my daughter, the most skilled of all of us. A bonus was hearing my oldest say how much he enjoyed painting and found it relaxing, and here I was, assuming he would be the one least excited about it. He liked it so much that he even bought his girlfriend a paint-by-numbers design for one of her Christmas presents.
The heartwarming part was reading their downloads from the Lord. My spirit was touched by their sensitivity and the details they included. The personal notes didn't take too much time compared to the painting but were just as meaningful nonetheless.
We meticulously wrapped and packed each masterpiece so it wouldn't wrinkle. I felt like I was transporting a priceless treasure and was nervous about packing it in my checked baggage in case the bag got lost or damaged, so I packed it in my carry-on suitcase. I included notes of the recipient's descriptions along with the messages printed in English and Korean, so I would know what they said if they had any questions.
I wasn't 100% sure if we would find the people for whom the gifts were intended, but I was going to obey and believe the seed would turn into fruit. When my husband and I arrived at the conference center, we scanned the auditorium and prayed God would highlight the right individuals. Whenever I saw someone who matched the kids' description of the recipient, I would wonder if that was the person or if it was someone else. Even though our kids took a risk, we, too, had to discern who the Holy Spirit was guiding us to. By the end of the week, following the leading of the Holy Spirit, I felt confident about who received the art pieces.
When we told the person we had a gift for them, many were surprised and deeply touched that God would give them an accurate message from someone who didn't even know them. A couple were confused and didn't understand, but we gifted them anyway and told them to hold on to it as it may make sense later. The recipients' reactions varied, but all were touched by the thoughtfulness and effort that went into the original artwork and the messages from the Lord, sparking a range of emotions and creating a memorable experience for all involved.
I was overjoyed to share the responses with our kids. I couldn't wait until we returned home, so regardless of the time difference, I texted our kids, hoping they would receive it with as much excitement as I had. Sharing this experience with them made this trip even more significant. It was a remarkable opportunity for our kids to partner with the Holy Spirit, to use their gifts to bless others, and for us to trust them.
I pray my kids will be inspired to be involved in this way again, but next time, I hope they will hand deliver their artwork and messages themselves. ☺
I encourage you to try this, too. You don't have to be a Picasso to bless someone with your creativity and wisdom. Even stick figure drawings (my specialty ☺) can impact someone. Give it a try and watch what God can do.
**Today's blog photo is one of the pieces we gave away.
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