A Portrait to Ponder

Elizabeth is the artist in our family. She is happiest with a crayon or pen in her hand. Paper is a valuable commodity to her, more precious than silver or gold and yes, even chocolate.



She tends toward drawing people and animals, but anything goes depending on the whim of the artist. When she's feeling a bit tomboyish--no doubt due to the influence of her brothers-- she will surprise us with a rendition of a race car or truck. Other times, she will draw scenes from our daily life: Shadow chewing a bone, Jonathan taking his vitamins or the kids gathered around a birthday cake. Sometimes Alan finds little mysterious slips of paper in his briefcase with a big "E" and random scribbles in crayon--a secret message to Daddy.

The other day, she brought her latest drawing to me.



Me: Hi Sweetie, what do we have here?
E: A picture.
Me: A picture of?
E: Mama and Daddy.
Me: Hmmm...now why does Mama look happy and Daddy looks.... ?
E: (giggles and runs off)

I never got a proper interpretation out of her. She had already gone on to the next drawing, while I stood there pondering the portrait. Dig that hair! Where are the noses? Why is my mouth open? Oh, dear.

Could it mean: Mama announces her latest brilliant idea!
Or: We're having tuna casserole for dinner tonight!
Or: She talks and talks and never stops!
I sure hope it's not: Mama drives Daddy crazy!

I'll probably never find out what she was thinking. It got me thinking, though: What kind of portrait am I to my daughter? When she is grown, will she remember a portrait of a loud and complaining woman or a portrait of a gentle and godly woman?

Conviction from a crayon. Who would've thunk?

"She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness." Proverbs 31:26.