Take Heart - Donna Rhodes

“Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.” Romans 4:7 NIV

I am not artistic so, when my sixteen-year-old granddaughter and I passed a “Paint It Yourself” pottery store, I noticed a sign. It stated “No Experience Needed to Create a Masterpiece.” I thought it would be something even I could do, and my granddaughter agreed.

Once inside, I chose a large coffee mug for my husband, and she also selected a mug, a gift for her dad’s birthday. A clerk showed us the stencils, stamps, and sponges we would need to paint our pieces. Our artful experience began. I lettered my mug “Coffee with My Girls” in honor of our new puppy. She sits with my husband and me each day as we enjoy our morning brew. I dipped a dog-shaped sponge into copper brown paint, the color of our puppy. I pressed the sponge to the mug and was left with a paint blob.

“What will I do now?” I asked my granddaughter. “I’ve already ruined it.”

“No you haven’t Grandma,” she replied. “Keep working on it; you can’t ruin it, its art!”

Encouraged, I found a sponge, larger than the dog image, and realized I could use it to go over the mess I’d made. I covered my mistake with a beautiful heart shape. My ugly mug soon became a winsome work of art.

Working with my hands set my mind in motion as well. How many times had God covered up my messes with His heart filled with love and compassion?

Perhaps we are all works of art in the making. God never sees us as mistakes. When we come to Him with repentance on our hearts, He meticulously wipes away the marks. God is bigger than our mistakes and He is more than willing to cover us with His love.

Donna Rhodes is a public speaker with a passion for telling people what God has done in her life, including delivering her from a cult. She is a Certified Christian Life Coach and has written for her local newspaper. She has produced material for Bible Studies and has been on staff mentoring women with Florence Littauer’s C.L.A.S.S (Christian Leaders Authors and Speakers Services).
Read Donna's devotions.