February is known as the month of romance and love. During this time, young love is heightened, the fires of passion are rekindled in mature relationships and singletons hope to be hit by cupid’s arrow. Women and teens alike desire to be spoilt and made to feel like princesses. We all hope for the ‘kissed frog to turn into our very own Prince Charming’. It’s at this time that every effort is made in buying the perfect Valentine cards, special chocolates, only the cutest of cuddly toys will do, and let us not forget red roses. It’s exhilarating to give our tokens of love and in turn receive tokens back from that special person in our lives.
It is easy to experience the emotion of love, but in our society and on a global level, the percentage of people questioning their worth and left feeling unloved is growing at an alarming rate. America has released statistics to reveal that the feeling of being unloved is the biggest problem facing modern society today. There are many reasons for this, but to mention a few examples, parents not having interactive healthy relationships with their children, husbands and wives living past one another and the lack of selflove. Most importantly, people do not believe that they are loved by their Creator, our heavenly Father. How can an emotionally crippled person move forward despite past hurts and misconceptions? Where do they start?
Let me share a case study as a guide.
Since Emma could remember, she has always been a creative person. Emma was brought up by her parents, who were perfectionists and who lived by the motto of dedication and hard work. She was taught that material success was the only real success in life. Emma struggled with these value systems and found herself drawn to expressions of creativity. Growing up, her fondest memories were drying flowers and leaves. She loved to spend time in nature and learnt self-expression by making beautiful cards and wall collages. Her parents did not approve and looked at these talents as being a waste of valuable time and effort.
Her creative skills and talents were not acknowledged and she questioned her own self-worth. Her need for love and acceptance led her to conform to her parents’ way of life. She forced herself into a professional career, where she acquired success, but at a price. She went through the motions of achieving success by being detached from who she really was. Deep down inside, the creative little girl that she once was yearned to be set free. She decided to turn her life around. She attended the best craft workshops available and very quickly became an expert in the craft field. She is one of the best crafters that I know. Surprisingly, she found her niche in recycle craft, which at the time seemed strange to me, but that was before I heard her story. I will always remember her words, “It fits well with my soul to give love to things that have never received any”. It was clear to me that the scars of feeling unloved for so long where deep inside of her. I had to share God’s words of love, He is after all the Great Physician. I shared: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only son that you may live” John 3:16. The veil was lifted and for the first time she felt loved, not only loved, but unconditionally loved.
Her outlook on life changed completely, she has been blessed with a wonderful caring husband and today she is a devoting mother of two beautiful children.
She is more active as a crafter than ever before, but with a solid foundation in knowing who she is. She crafts today from a stand point of LOVE. Love towards her colleagues and students, love towards the industry and love towards her objects. She is a walking example of ‘love concurs all’.
Remember while you are crafting do it for the real LOVE and not to fill an emotional lie.
Keep a look out on this space for creative recycle heart ideas.