My Artistic Mother

Beauty does not exist to be ignored, rather it is a reflection of the soul that invites our participation.                           ~Linda Saccoccio 




There are so many things I could say about my mother.  I could tell you about her gentle voice whispering, "Bless your baby heart" when I was sick. (I heard those words during my last illness.)  I could tell you how I loved racing her to the door when Daddy came home to see who got the first kiss.  I could tell you how passionate she was about Christian Education (she always said she'd take me piggyback if she had to). Or how she was always waiting when we came home from school.  I could tell you I never once questioned her relationship with God, because it shined through every part of her life.

Mom and I -- 17 years younger!

But as I was thinking about this post, the thing that kept coming to mind was her love of beauty.  I don't think we ever used anything ugly --  whether it was an ironing board cover or a pencil.  Why use something ugly when you could just as easily use the beautiful.

From my earliest years I realized my mother epitomized a Sheltering Tree -- always creating and giving to others.  But each gift for others, whether a homemade cinnamon roll or a bouquet of flowers, had a beautiful ribbon tied around it.  The quote by Vincent van Gogh -- I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people -- describes my mother perfectly.

My mother (with Mary Ann Clark) is standing on the left.

Her artistic gene was evident in everything she did, whether sewing dresses for me or making scrapbooks long before it became a fad. Throughout the years my mother tried about every medium available to her.  Classes for oil painting, water colors, drawing, homemade paper, ceramics and china painting -- Mom enjoyed every project, and I quickly learned to admire them all.  None of my friends' mothers appreciated and created beauty with the same intensity as my mother, and I was so proud of her.


I remember a picture Mom colored with me -- a simple picture of a skater.  She colored the girl's outfit red, then shined it with a tissue.  The white fur was finished the same way.  I would love to have that picture, but the one in my mind's eyes is very clear. Mom could transform a coloring book into an artistically flavored coffee table book!

She always supplied me with craft projects, making each trip to the craft store such fun.  We found projects were more fun when we were both enjoying the same one.  We wove baskets together, cross stitched, and experimented with a myriad of creative ideas.

Today she spends her creative time designing beautiful cards like the one she made to congratulate Emily for her regional convention successes.  Just this week my aunt spent time with her to make cards.  She still shelters others and all her thoughtful gifts are still tied with a ribbon.

My mother brought beauty into my life, not only through the artistic gift given by God, but by creative parenting, home decorating and a lifetime of sheltering.  Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not."  My mother found beauty and carries it with her.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom.  I love you.