Gifts and Roles

Laura Nutting Art

Chartreuse Vase

Gifts and Roles

Creating

We’ve all heard it said “It’s not the gift that matters. It’s the thought that counts.” Isn’t it true? A gift costs the giver something, money, time, thought, work or sacrifice. I had shared a story with friends of mine from prayer group some time ago. A story that included things that were special to me. Months later I unexpectantly received this vase. The thing is, it’s a nice vase but it wouldn’t have had the same impact received by someone else. To me, I knew my friend had remembered all the details of the story and looked (probably for a while) to find this. The story I had shared with her also had a paintbrush in it. Fittingly, this vase now holds paintbrushes and I keep the ribbon on as a reminder of the detail in the gift giving.

The small pottery mug next to it has been with me most of my life. The little rabbit mug is one of the few pieces of artwork my mom created for me that survived my childhood. It too has a deeper value than meets the eye (even though mom made some really nice artwork).  The details in the depths of these gifts remind me of the deeper calling as I begin to work in my studio.

Most of us have been given all sorts of different gifts over our lifetimes. The expensive ones might make us feel special, the gift cards are nice but the things that cost something beyond money reach the deepest- don’t they?  

I think about how a gift that would only mean something to me or someone with my similar interests, even a rare gift that was found or something from a flea market, or on a much greater level – my Savior on a cross… means the most. I am reminded of how unworthy I am to receive such a gift yet how much value we each have or the gift would never have been given.

Then there is the receiving of the gift. A gift can’t fully be celebrated if it isn’t received by the recipient. The giver’s heart is right, the gift is right, but the recipient has to receive it for the blessing to be fully manifested. This season, most of us will be both giver and receiver. In life we will all do both. We may not be able to go back and give a gift we wish we would have or receive one we may have rejected so may we all give and take of the opportunities and invitation we have today.

Blessings!

P.S. If you would like to follow along watching me work, you can follow me on Instagram @lauranuttingart

Sincerely,

Laura Nutting