The Good Shepherd by Jane Martin | Watercolor Original

Fearless

Fearless…

As we are approaching the end of the year, I am looking back on 2015 as the year of living

fearlessly. As 2015 began, I chose the word fearless as my word for the year. I had spent

several years of taking art classes… both studio and online. And, I had become a “collector”… of

art supplies.

My decision to live fearlessly was a commitment to myself to use those art supplies and to

share what I created on Facebook… a very scary thing for me. And, thanks to the Lord and the

encouragement of family and friends, it has been an incredible artsy year.

As all of this unfolded, I have found a new voice.

What does that mean?

I spent 12 years as a Bible study teacher… teaching co-ed classes. But, my heart was with the

women’s Bible study I had taught almost every Thursday nights for years. I had spent those

years preparing dinner for them.. feeding them both physically and spiritually…and, they were

“my girls”.

Two years ago I had a thyroidectomy – the results of thyroid cancer. Since that time, my voice

has been damaged, I had to give up teaching, and I had become something of a hermit… as

communication was difficult and often times impossible.

Although my voice is better, I am still unable to teach. My art has become my voice… an

expression of who I am and what is important to me.

I want to encourage you to think about something in your life that might be a struggle for you,

to select a word to embrace for 2016, and to surrender to the changes that will follow all to the

glory of God.

Next… my word for 2016…