Some people have a gift for beauty. It seems that anything they touch turns lovely. They turn meals and rooms and anything else they make into works of art.
I am not one of those people.
I am not artsy or craftsy. I do not draw. Or sew. Or knit. Or decorate. Or anything. But I secretly wish I did. I secretly envy the beauty-makers.
So when Ann Voskamp created a family devotional for these last days of Lent, complete with classic works of art to hang on a Lenten tree, I decided that instead of just looking enviously at her little tree, I would actually try to make one of my own.
I cut branches from our spirea, tied them with twine, stabilized them in rocks in a flower pot, and set my little Lenten tree on the piano. I was shocked how good it looked.
Then I cut out the artwork from Ann’s devotional, and since we were fresh out of construction paper, Jane and I glued it onto colorful origami paper, and I taped ribbon to each piece of art so we could hang it from the branches of our tree. As we started to hang the artwork up, one piece each day, I was once again shocked at how pretty it was.
I had a surprising amount of fun bringing these branches inside and making something special for our family in these last days of Lent. I’m starting to realize that making a lovely life is mostly a matter of trying. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It won’t be, because I’m not.
But I shouldn’t let that stop me from enjoying the beauty I can create.
*****
For inspiration for your own Lenten tree, check out Ann Voskamp’s gorgeous (and intimidating) photos of hers.
You can also download her “Trail to the Tree” devotion book.
Lovely!………both you and the Lenten tree.
Oh, this is a good reminder to me. I so often fail to follow through on thoughts of making something simple to beautify our home. Your Lenten tree is lovely and brings up other lovely possibilities as well.
Beautiful, Kimberlee 🙂
That’s a very permission-giving post. Lovely. Thank you.