Francis’s Painting and Lucy’s Dandelion

Bible Reading: MATTHEW 11:28-30; 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9-10

“It’s not good enough!” Francis frowned at the picture in front of him. It was messy. He didn’t like it.

“It is good enough,” Mom said, her voice calm.

“Look at that.” Francis pointed to a spot where his paintbrush had slipped. “That blue isn’t supposed to be there. I’m not going to submit it. It’s garbage.”

“Look what Lucy found!” Dad came into the room with Francis’s baby sister in his arms. He helped her hand Mom what looked like the head of a dandelion.

“Oh, Lucy, this is beautiful!” Mom said.

Francis watched in disbelief. But it’s all squashed up, and it doesn’t have a stem, he thought. It’s a weed!

Dad passed Lucy over to Mom and came over to the table. “What’s that, Francis?”

Francis sighed. “I was going to enter it in the contest at the library, but it’s no good.”

“What do you mean, it’s no good?” Dad picked up the painting, his eyes traveling over it. “I like it.”

“I do too,” Mom said. “You worked hard on it, and it really shows.”

“If you gave it your best, that’s what matters,” Dad said. “It doesn’t need to be perfect. God wants us to use the talents and abilities He’s given us so others can enjoy them, and that’s what you did with this painting.”

“God?” Francis shook his head. “I don’t want God to see this painting. He wouldn’t like it. I wouldn’t want Him to see how I messed up.”

“Francis,” Mom said, “God does see that painting, and He likes it. He likes it because you made it and He loves you.” Mom held out the dandelion. “I like Lucy’s gift because she’s my child. It doesn’t have to be perfect. And you’re one of God’s children. He knows all the ways we’ve messed up, which is why He sent His perfect Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to save us. He loves it when we use our gifts to create new things, even though they’re not perfect.”

“I think your painting is beautiful,” Dad said. He leaned over and kissed the chubby cheek of Francis’s sister. “Just like Lucy’s dandelion.” EMILY ACKER

How About You?

Are you always trying to be perfect? It’s good to want to do your best, but trying to do everything perfectly will only exhaust you. No one is perfect except Jesus—and He loves you no matter what. He takes pleasure in the things you do for Him, even when they’re less than perfect. You don’t need to be perfect because He already is. Just enjoy the gifts He’s given you.

Today’s Key Verse:
ROMANS 8:35 WHO SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST? SHALL TRIBULATION, OR DISTRESS, OR PERSECUTION, OR FAMINE, OR NAKEDNESS, OR PERIL, OR SWORD? (NKJV)

Today’s Key Thought:

You don’t need to be perfect