Saturday, January 8, 2011

WHAT MORE CAN I DO?


"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." ---- Oliver Wendell Holmes

I used to bother about what had gone past and what was yet to come. The questions always fell on 'was it good the year that passed?' or 'what's up ahead in the future for me?'

Then I learned that... i was asking the wrong questions. I should be asking myself instead... 'what more can I do?' When you get satisfactory answers to that, then you can rest easy that it was indeed a good year that has gone by... and ...that future which you seek will be right there for you. You don't have to look elsewhere, it's all inside of you to create the life you want for yourself. God didn't create losers but winners who shine both within and out to the waiting world outside. Now let's make God proud.

Okay, "what more can I do?" Here's my tiny bit... at 64 - widow, mother, sister, friend, and others more God has lined up for me to do. :-)

As you may already know I do landscape sketches with pencil, some posted here in the blog. But have long toyed with the idea of painting in water color, just for the fun of it. Have never tried that before, after all have had no training whatsoever for the art; but it always had been a dream. 'Been drawing since I was a kid but that isn't a guaranty (as most in the know would say) that something on a bigger scale other than a sketchpad would come out fairly nice or a wee bit closer to that in the least.

So a few days ago, at the insistent prodding of my youngest daughter (like I said our children know us better than most people do..), 'took out the canvass 12"x14" (she always has a supply of one or two on stand-by for her occasional dabbling at the art) and borrowed her water color set, placed the canvass on the computer table leaning on the monitor, sat on the computer chair... and began!

Well, not quite immediately. First had to have an image of what to paint. And nature was and has always been the first choice for the drawings made.... and again this time. Remembered that one wallpaper on the desktop which was simply so pretty. Well, to make a long story short... here's a beginner's first honest step in water color painting :-) Am tip-toeing on this one.. Lols!

And my tribute to 'what more can I do'. And this I can truly say, 'have enjoyed myself immensely; 'had lots of fun with it. I guess that's what truly matters. A big bonus if that makes God smile too. Lols!

Hope to hear 'bout your own experience soon. :-) .. crocheting, knitting, cooking, biking, trekking, writing a book -- anyone??

10 comments:

  1. Thank you so much Ellen. I appreciate all you had to say on my blog, and I needed to hear it. You encouraged me tonight, and God used you to speak to me, concerning some things I am going through at the moment. God Bless you. :)

    Your painting is very Beautiful. My husband and I are putting our house up for sale, and hoping to buy a townhouse condo, not far from a river, and overlooking the park along the river. There is none for sale at the moment, and it will take a miracle for our house to sell, and a condo to become available at the same time. Your painting reminds me of that river, and park. :)
    Thank you again for coming to my blog, and writing your comment. It means more than you know.
    Dianne :)

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  2. Hi Dianne,

    Your message here touched my heart so. I feel your anxiety and can understand just how much that means to you. Been through something like it before. Why, I told myself then if allowed.. that I would scrub the heavenly floors, all of it, in exchange for that one wish granted. :-)

    But God had a better idea. Although I had to wait a little while, but it was worth all the waiting. Surely just like a 'rainbow that comes after the rain'. :-) That line never goes stale; it never will as God himself promised it.

    Miracles -- is just God's job. Believe and it will be according to your faith. Claim your dream with His own words in Jeremiah 29:11 ... "For I know what my plans for you are, plans to save you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and to give you hope." -- Trust Him to do what's best for you. Because He will.

    I offered a prayer for you in mass today. Take care now and wish you tons of blessings more from our Heavenly Father.

    Ellen

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  3. Dear Ellen,
    Good Evening!
    Wish You A Happy And Prosperous New Year!
    Your post is really thought provoking and it spreads positive energy.
    We can really do many more things,friend.If we have made mistakes,we can always erase them and start life all over again.As another New Year slips in,why can we erase the mistakes,the negatives and the terrors of the ones that went by,choosing to keep with us just the happy,fulfilling and nourishing memories?
    Wishing you a lovely evening,
    Sasneham,
    Anu

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  4. Hi Anu.. a happy New Year to you and your loved ones!

    You posed a question there -- "..As another New Year slips in, why can we erase the mistakes, the negatives and the terrors of the ones that went by, choosing to keep with us just the happy, fulfilling and nourishing memories?"

    Can? or Can't?

    Anyway, allow me to put in my bit thoughts on the question. As I understand it 'the mistakes, negatives and the terrors ..." we experience in life come not to destroy us nor to make us sad or miserable. As painful as it may seem to be going through it, we must and try to understand that it's there for a definite purpose --- and that purpose is to help us grow or mature into better versions of our old selves. Knowledge - wisdom - maturity or progress -- these are realized only after life's lessons are learned and learned well.

    Most of us would rather keep or dwell on the "..happy, fulfilling and nourishing memories.." because we don't want to be part of anything tantamount to pain or hurt in our lives ... we try to avoid it as much as we can. Human nature, I would guess.

    But truthfully, that isn't how life must be lived. Life is factually both joy and pain. They are close cousins, tightly knit in fact. You can't have one without the other. The Yin and Yang of life and living and the world.

    Thank you for coming by, Anu; missed you.
    May God's grace and blessings pout out in huge measure upon you and your home. God bless!

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  5. Your post and blog are filled with so much positive energy...thank you for visiting my blog and becoming a follower...I haven't had a chance to read everything on your blog...will be back to do so!

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  6. Hi Elen,
    I think there lies within us lot more than we know. Probably a little encouragement or the initiative to take that first step makes all the difference. I as a kid was quite good at drawing cartoons. I had drawn a workbook full of cartoons of politicians. That workbook is still with me and my mother often has asked me about what happened of that cartooning talent but somehow I have never resumed it. Looking at your skeches, I have often thought of picking up a pencil and getting started, but didn't. I would like to see your new paintings on your blog this new year.

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  7. Welcome, Theanne! Delighted to see you. :-) And thank you for your message. I shall be looking forward to seeing you again. Too, am following your blog and liking it. Have a blessed day!

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  8. Hi Indra,

    You know what, I think you should pick up where you've left off. Now is the perfect time with so much happening in our world, political and otherwise, you'll never run out of subjects to draw. Go ahead pick up that pencil and get started. Make that first step and the rest will come easy. I know that by experience... the painting stands as proof, if I may say so myself. Lols! :-)

    Oh you're such a wonderful friend encouraging me with my new-found interest hahah... Thank you! And I expect you to do the same... so then I look forward to seeing your cartoon drawings in your blog pretty soon. Let that spark within shine through and out. :-)

    God bless you, Indra.

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  9. ellen,
    you appear to have been painting for years. you have a whole lot of artistic skill. i just push buttons.
    nikonsniper steve

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  10. Hi Steve,

    I think that's one of the nicest things said about my painting. Thank you from the heart.

    Truth of the matter is, this was my first painting in water color. And it delights me much that you've appreciated the effort. Must admit that it's been a long dream since I was 15. Unfortunately couldn't afford art classes. So that tiny dream got shelved. Life then moved me to other things and have forgotten all about it. Until one day January 2011 -- when out of the blue I borrowed my daughter's water color set and canvass and painted...just painted. That was crazy I know. Lols! But it was fun and I guess that's what truly matters.

    Thanks for dropping by, Steve. I love your blog.. all the lovely pictures there. You take excellent photographs of life and nature. All amazing beyond measure.

    Take care now. Best regards to your family.
    God bless.

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:-) Here's where I warmly welcome you and where you leave your footprints behind with fond memories attached to it of wonderful chats and friendships. Thank you for your comments. Or send your comments to ellen622@gmail.com. Will be seeing you in your blog too. God bless you!