If you hear a voice within you say, "you cannot paint," then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced. -Vincent Van Gogh

I am a creative dabbler. I can walk through Michael's or Joann's or Craft Warehouse and see 10 different crafty things that I think I'd like to try.

Here is a far-from-comprehensive list of things that I have tried:
*Photography

*Knitting

*Counted Cross Stitch

*Baking

*Blogging

*Writing

*Scrapbooking

*Stamping

*Card Making

You get the idea.

I've had varying levels of success and enjoyment with these and other methods of creative expression.

But for the last couple of years I have felt deeply dissatisfied with the dabbling. I'm tired of being a Jill of all trades, master of none. I have been searching for the "One Thing." Please picture Jack Palance in "City Slickers."

Now, please do not misunderstand me. In the big picture of my life, the One Thing is my relationship with God, followed by my family. Nothing else even makes the list. Nothing.

But I'm talking about the One Creative Thing. One thing that I don't get tired of within a year. One thing that I can do well. One thing that I find challenging and satisfying at the same time.

I've brought this longing to God, feeling a little trivial. A little silly. Wondering, in the grand scheme of things how important this is.

Here's the thing, though. God wants us to give Him all of ourselves. Not just the "spiritual" stuff. Not just the life-or-death stuff. All the stuff.

All the stuff.

So, when I see God answering my trivial, silly prayers by showing me that I AM A PAINTER, I am reminded in a very real way how much He loves me. How much my smallest concerns matter to Him. And all of a sudden, I don't feel so trivial after all.