per·se·ver·ance
[pur-suh-veer-uhns]
1. steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.
2. Theology. continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation.
In a world {and a home} full of people who expect immediate gratification, we all need to slow down and practice patience and steadfastness. I don't know who needs more work in this area, us our our kids.
James and I joke that we are a family full of people who have LFTS "Low Frustration Tolerance Syndrome." We say this because none of us are particularly fond of doing complicated things like putting furniture together or scrapbooking...yes, scrapbooking is frustrating to me because there are so many embellishments, pictures to choose from, special glue, tape and other adhesives, papers, choices, and tiny little things to organize.
{that is why I blog instead}
Each of our kids seems to get frustrated when trying to make objects fit into small spaces or figuring out how to play a new game. Some more than others, but we definitely have our share of thrown toys or stomps out of the room when things are more difficult than they'd like for them to be.
James is a musician and he will play a song or a complicated riff on his guitar over and over until he gets it perfect. I will research a topic I am interested in until I feel that I have firm grasp on it and am able to teach it myself. And, all 6 of us have been known to persevere through "creating" something that matters to us.
{like natural childbirth 3 times, for example. not that i was creating, but i was allowed to be part of the process, right?}
So, that brings me to my point. Art, any kind of creating or crafting (even coloring a picture in a coloring book) takes some level of perseverance in order to see it to completion. In college and continuing ed, I learned about how awesome art is for kids with ADD because it teaches them to focus their attention and complete a task with success providing a tangible reward for sticking to it.
Last week, when we bought our collage supplies from Hobby Lobby, I also got the kids a "Loops & Loom" weaving loom like I had when I was little. The man-child has already made a half dozen pot holders from this thing. I have never before seen him more focused and determined than he is with this loom. He calmly weaves each strand with a look of pure contentment in the moment on his face. On Easter morning, Uncle Matt and I had a hard time getting him out the door because he was determined to finish the pot holder he was making for Miss Amanda at church. I told him that we see her at least 3 times a week, so we could give it to her another time, but it wasn't good enough. We had tears on the way to the car.
Jeka had a good point. She said that Jesse is exhibiting typical male behavior by finding something he is good at and doing it over and over with the will and determination to finish. He had found success in his first completed pot holder and now he was going into the pot holder making business. It reminds me of when James had to fill in for me at a jewelry making party and he made me an awesome bracelet. He came home that night ready to start a small business on the side. {Love my creative man!}
Isn't perseverance something we all struggle with and want to cultivate in our kids? Add a little art...
