Life’s Canvas

Photo by Satineee

Each of our lives start as a blank canvas. You get to add the colors with the strokes of your brush through your actions and attitudes toward the things you do, feel and accomplish. Here is the way I decide which colors are going on my canvas: Anything positive, like joy, love, mercy, grace, hope, giving, and helping others are my pastels and bright colors. Anger and bitterness, resentment, hate, selfishness, and deceit are the dark, foreboding colors that don’t allow for a beautiful portrait.

Forgiveness Is My White Paint

I want to explain more about the color white.  For me, it symbolizes forgiveness. When I think of all the times I have used  white to start my painting over… do-overs. There are many layers of paint. We do not have to settle on the colors we have painted in our past. Maybe the colors on your canvas need covered or touched up. Maybe it has been a while since you touched up the pretty blues with acts of kindness or sharing a smile. It all counts toward that finished life painting.

I was thumbing through the Tampa news the other day and saw an article by the Associated Press about a slum getting a much needed and interesting makeover. The slum was tired and run down, screaming for help. Artist Duffaut had a vision. While he painted a picture of the slum, he envisioned the hillside with something added to it: COLOR. He gave this slum a face lift on the canvas. Though the artist died last year, the Haitian government brought his  idea to life. They decided to make this change, to add ‘richness’ to the town. The Jalousie slum will be a myriad of color, with purples, peach, lime and creams, inspired by the dazzling “Cities-In-the-Skies” by well-known Haitian painter, Prefete Duffaut. (AP)

How long has your canvas needed a dash of pink, blue or a sunshine yellow smeared on it?

All it takes is a small little act. A brush stroke against the canvas and your face lift begins. I have added a little white to the corners of my canvas where it had grayed a bit. It’s funny how long these gray areas (built up hurt and bitterness) can go undetected. Before you know it, your beautiful painting (life) takes a turn for the worse – devastating storms, violent strokes of hate or despair.

I encourage you to continue painting your canvas in color. If you are like me and struggle every once in a while with the darkness, throw a dash of white (forgiveness) on  your canvas. I delightfully entreat you to get a bucket and have a paint party! Throw it, toss it, swish the brush as many directions as possible. Cover the mess!  As my sister-in-law, Rebecca Digrugilliers, added the other day, “Don’t think you have to be satisfied with where you are at.”

Live life in color.

Ravish yourself in love, joy, peace, hope and forgiveness!

Promise yourself a canvas of unique celebrations of your accomplishments.

And if you make a mistake, You CAN fix it.

Now, where is that white paint?