He finds me in the kitchen stirring jambalaya and adding parsley to the crockpot bowl. He sidles up next to me and almost whispers it,
“Guess what happened today, Mama?”
I turn to find his eyes flickering warmth like a good spring day and ask, “What happened today?”
“Well, I showed some of my drawings to my friend Harry, and he liked them! He said he thought I was a really good artist.”
I smile big and answer, “Well, that’s because you are a very good artist!”
He gives me a look that says You have to say that because you’re my Mama.
No son, I say it because it’s true. But perhaps it’s more expected that Mama-me would say it. It’s not expected from others, and I think that’s what makes it exciting. I see this written all over his handsome little face: Kind encouragement from others wipe the grime and dust from our own mirror showing us a more genuine, beautiful picture of ourselves.
It makes the real us feel known.
“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I am known in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” ~1 Corinthians 13:12
God knows us fully, right down to the dustiest corners of our heart. We rest in this always because He loves us always. But sometimes, He surprises us by dropping unexpected encouragement into our laps from other folks, the kind of encouragement that can turn an inheritance of grief into an inheritance of grace. The kind that surprises us by helping us see ourselves more accurately.
Recently I read a beautiful, poignant memoir called The Artist’s Daughter by Alexandra Kuykendall. I met Alex at Allume last fall and then again in Denver a couple weeks ago. She is honest, genuine, and pure delight – all qualities that dance in her lovely writing.
In The Artist’s Daughter, Alex writes of her childhood as the daughter of a single doting mother and a famous Spanish artist who was not regularly involved in her life. While I have no idea what it’s like to grow up without a father, I can identify with wounds caused by disappointing realities and wishing for different, of wanting to be fully known as only God sees. And really, who couldn’t?
Alex writes of how she learned to turn an inheritance of grief into one of grace, and what this looks like in herself, her marriage, and her mothering. It is a compelling story that touches tender places relevant to my life and probably yours, too.
Because I loved it so much, I’m {surprise!} giving away one copy to one person who links up *or* comment below. I will draw a winner from the total link-ups and comments and announce that winner on the blog next week. But if you don’t want to wait for your own copy of The Artist’s Daughter, you may now find it here or here.
May it bless you as wildly as it blessed me.
Giveaway copy generously provided by Revell.
If you are sharing your own surprise story, here are some things to remember:
1. New to link-up’s or have questions? Read this first.
2. Since we all dig surprises, please surprise another writer by leaving a comment on her post *or* by giving her a facebook shout-out or tweet. Use the hashtag: #outoftheblue.
3. Be sure to include the out of the blue banner {see below} in your post or link back to Chasing Blue Skies so your readers can join in the fun. That way, we can all easily find each other.
Next week’s prompt: A memory of spring that surprises you! I’ll just tell you right now mine might have something to do with all the springtime snow we’ve seen. {Hello, 2 hour school delay on May 2nd!} I look forward to reading how your own unexpected surprise story of spring increased your joy or made a difference in your life!
