"...the Father's gifts were never intended to be ends in themselves, provided solely for personal growth or enjoyment. Rather, such provisions were meant to prepare the Christian for her true vocation: a life of service to others, in the name of Christ. " - Miriam Huffman Rockness

I've been reading "A Passion for the Impossible: The Life of Lilias Trotter", a biography about an artist-turned-missionary and it's been stirring up so much in my soul. This quote got me thinking about the creative gifts that He has given to each of us. For many years I pursued various forms of art with selfish purposes but in more recent years God has opened my eyes to the realization that He is the giver of talents and He distributes each of those talents with purposes that extend far beyond our limited scope. Knowing this should change our perspective on why we create in the first place. Our talents should first and foremost be for His glory -- a reflection of the Creator Himself -- but they should also be used as a means of service to others, in recognition of our true vocation.Do not misunderstand, a Christian may pursue art as a vocation or hobby. I have plenty of talented friends making a living off their work just the same as any non-creative business would do. I also love new hobbies and crafting on the side whenever I get the chance. But I've known the addiction that the pursuit of art can bring. Art in and of itself should not be the end goal. If our lives are wrapped entirely around our tools, skills, style, and artistic goals, with little to no regard to the Giver of Gifts and His intents for those gifts, then it's time to do a heart check and ask ourselves what our purpose in life really is.Serving God and others, of course, will look differently for everyone. It could mean donating your lettering, design, or painting skills to a church, ministry, or charity. It could be using your photography skills for a couple or family who may not be able to afford much at all. It could be sewing or knitting things for local shelters. There are so many ways we can employ creative giving with our creative gifts. The question we must ask ourselves is: In what ways do You want me to give back the very things you've given to me? This quote reminded me to continually use creativity for His glory, to regularly examine my heart as I create, and to seek Him for ways to serve others in the process. There is so much more to be said on this topic but perhaps that will have to be a Deeply Rooted article. ;)On that note, I've been on a much needed "vacation" from DRM. I overworked myself this year and the time off has been a blessing in so many ways. This past week I was able to pursue something sitting on my personal to-do list. Wall hangings have been a popular trend for a while now and something I've always been drawn to. I actually attempted to make a DIY picture frame loom two Summers ago. I bought all the yarn and it's sat in my craft drawer ever since. (I blame that on the busyness/business, haha.) But Ethan got me a loom for Christmas and now I've finally gotten around to weaving!I struggled to get the initial steps down and had to ask Ethan to help me. (That's what I get for trying to learn from a E-book.) I'm so glad some of his military training gave him a foundation in sewing/knot tying between that knowledge and him watching some Youtube videos, he was the one to help me get started, haha! Once I got the basics down, I found this type of loom weaving to be so incredibly easy (and therapeutic.) Unlike my love for knitting, this didn't leave my fingers aching which made me happy. It sounds lame but I stopped knitting mainly for that reason.There is also so much freedom to create whatever design or color palette you would like. I didn't follow a pattern and just had fun experimenting with different types of string and techniques.I didn't realize it until seeing the picture on the right, but clearly my living room was inspiration without me even knowing it, haha.The finished piece is hanging in our living room (for now!) I'm excited to try out more complex techniques and to perfect some of the basics. :) I would love to have some sort of a looming get-together for anyone wanting to learn. I'm definitely not an expert but it would be fun to fill the living room with yarn, warm drinks, and both new and old friends. If you're interested, connect with me!