Meerkat drawing by my eight-year-old daughter from Doug DuBosque’s Draw Grassland Animals
I love seeing glimpses of myself in my daughter.
When she received some new art supplies this Christmas, I got a good, long look at our similarities. As she opened the watercolour paints, tearing the gift wrap off – shutting out other gifts that were scattered around, her eyes, round and sparkling, came to life with creativity, and now she spends every spare moment drawing and painting.
Not only does she enjoy drawing, as I do, she enjoys trying new things. She enjoys a challenge.
I enjoy challenges too, I need them to keep me going. Although I prefer those that I get to choose, like learning a new skill, rather than those that sneak up on me. They are the real challenges, testing our character and the foundation we have built for our lives.
Life is full of them.
Challenges are the winds of life, they can tear us to shreds, or, if we learn how to work with them, they can help us to sail, strong and free!
I want to respond to difficulties well, I want to model this to my children. I want them to learn to rise to a challenge, whether it’s something fun, like learning to draw, or something unexpected.
Adversity is not something to be feared, but something to rise to, an opportunity to prove to yourself that you can do far more than you ever expected.
My daughter rose to new levels after receiving her Christmas gifts, and it’s been inspiring to witness!