The Real Gift!

     Years ago, before the birth of my second daughter, after nearly five years of infertility treatments and many miscarriages, I was in a hospital bed much like this one. As had happened all too often for me, I was in the process of yet another miscarriage and needed a surgical procedure. To say that I was discouraged is an understatement, to say the least. After coming out of general anesthesia, I lay there too weak to speak. The nurse who was attending to me was so sweet. She made small talk with my husband to make him feel more comfortable. She asked him about his career and then about mine. He talked with her for some time and told her I was a stay-at-home mom and an artist. "Oh, that's wonderful", she said, "my sister's an artist. I didn't get any talent. She's the one in our family with talent." I couldn't respond, but I was listening. It came time for me to get dressed, sign discharge papers and go home. The nurse propped me up at a small table. I couldn't really hold my head up yet so I lay my head down on my arm. Then the nurse came over to me and did something unexpected, she kissed me on the forehead.... "I'm so sorry you are going through this. You'll be back again and next time it will be for a happy reason." (by the way, she was right. The next time I was at that hospital I gave birth to a beautiful and healthy baby girl. It took 5 long years of infertility treatments and losses in between, but it was worth it.)

     Weeks after this experience with this amazing nurse, I wrote her a letter expressing my deep appreciation for what she had done for me and reminded her that she indeed had great talents. Oh how this woman's talents impacted my life. Oh how grateful I am that she was a nurse in that hospital on that day and that she was not just "another artist". I was so low, so sad and so discouraged that day. How did she know? Her gifts were extraordinary. She sensed my heart and overlooking "the rules", she had given me love and understanding when I needed it most. No, she may not have gotten the "art talent", but she got the best talent. Is there any question as to which talent or gift is more needed in this world, artistic talent or compassionate talent? We so often measure our gifts against the showy ones or the performing ones. Why??? The gift to discern what someone else is suffering and then the gift to offer love, understanding and care, these are real gifts and are really needed. Impressing others isn't half as important as making their lives happier and better.

     That's what I want to be when I grow up, someone who blesses others. I'm still learning. But, I have tried to use my art with this nurse's gift in mind. I love that art can beautify and decorate, but to me it's mission can be so much bigger. Art can sometimes comfort and carry the love of God into the hearts of it's viewers. Sometimes people are comforted by an image when words are inadequate. That's what I hope my art will do. I don't have that nurse's exact gifts, but in the language I have been given (the language of art), my paintings are my way of kissing you on the forehead and saying, don't give up, it's going to be okay, you are loved!