The Group of Seven

Have I mentioned before that we have the Best Art Teacher In The World? I have? Well that’s because I believe it’s true. Take a look at this, and see if you agree:

Mrs. Z. introduced the students in our group (aged 5-15) to The Group of Seven, giving a bit of their historical and biographical context. And then, after looking through several collections of paintings by artists from The Group of Seven, each student chose a painting whose style and subject matter they would like to imitate.

They began with pencil contour lines on their canvases, and then used a clear gel medium to give texture to areas of the painting. (The students would be working with acrylics, which dry smooth, and needed to add ‘artificial texture’ to the canvas to reproduce the thick texture and brush strokes of the oil paint used in the originals.)

During the next class, the children worked on the backgrounds of their paintings, mixing colours to match the original. The background paint had to dry before the foreground could be worked on, so that was considered a day’s work.

Next came the painting of the foreground. The colours here were sometimes more vivid, but not always, and the details of the paintings began to appear.

Diligent work (and some not-as-diligent) resulted in paintings to be proud of.

Here are the final results:

Do Not Lose Heart

Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. (2 Corinthians 4:1 NIV)

Tumbling Over the Edge

Why is it the little things that push me over the edge?

I’ve been balancing for months, strong winds buffeting from all sides, and now, one little gust, one little atmospheric irregularity, and I’m thrown into the abyss of tears.

Those who know me well might debate my perception that I’ve even been balancing, but it seems so to me: Preparing our home of 9 years for a new owner - balancing. Anticipating an inter-continental move - balancing. Leaving the security of Dear Man’s salaried position for raise-your-own-support full time ministry - balancing. Looking for answers about home education in a new country - balancing. Precarious, wobbly, but still balancing.

Then today a single phone call and over the edge I go. Plummeting into tears of frustration, anger, resentment, loss, and, finally incomprehension of my own response. Why does this feel so big? Why, with everything else that is happening, is this the thing that releases the sobs and tears?

Maybe it doesn’t matter so much why. Maybe it was simply time for the release, and this was a safe place for it.

Law and Love

... this fear of consequences should not be a fear of losing love.  Your child needs to know you are constantly and consistently connected and emotionally there with her, no matter what the infraction.  She only needs to be concerned about the loss of freedom and the possibility of pain.  the message is, "I love you, but you have chosen something difficult for yourself."

...Remember that the law restrains our out-of-control selves enough so that we can slow down and listen to the message of love.

Boundaries with Kids by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend

Chapter 8: Life Beyond "Because I'm the Mommy" - The Law of Motivation, page 126, 127

How hard it can be sometimes to maintain emotional connection with my children when I'm 'being their boundaries'.  Finding that balance of softness and firmness - like a spine, maybe - is hard.  I lean one way or the other and the balance is lost.


But if I can keep my balance I know my children will be able to see the real consequence as their problem, and not 'mean Mommy'.

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Isn't this really the same way that God works with me?  The law shows me my sin, and without it I wouldn't know I needed Him.  But it is there to point me to my need for Him, not to focus me on my sin.  To paraphrase Drs. Cloud and Townsend, "...the law restrains my out-of-control self enough so that I can slow down and listen to God's message of love."


Spriritual disciplines function in much the same way.  The disciplines are not faith.  They are not salvation.  But prayer, fasting, worship, simplicity...they slow me down and put me in a position where I am more attuned to hearing the voice of God.