This book.
The words.
The message.
The beauty breathed in and out as you read it.
The gentle encouragement to embrace the belief that we make art in everything that we do – whether we write, make food, build houses, wipe dirty noses, dance, milk cows, sit and listen to someone’s pain, pack boxes, paint, teach, make beds – whatever it is, it is all art.
If you are an artist – and here’s the thing, if you’re living and breathing, you are and artist – then get this book. Read it. Highlight the words that you know are meant for you to hear (my Kindle version looks like a rainbow). Dog ear the pages that you will go back to time and time again. Carry it with you. But believe what is within – you are an artist, because you are created in the image of God, and He is the Creator, the ultimate Artist.
I haven’t even got through the whole book yet, and I know this will become one of my staple go-tos for encouragement and inspiration. I knew it would even before I started reading it, because nearly everything Emily writes makes me think we are twins separated at birth. With identical brains and thoughts. I shouldn’t be by now, but I am continually surprised by how Emily is able to take the words and thoughts floating around in my head, and put them into readable sentences that I couldn’t.
(in)courage’s Bloom book club is featuring A Million Little Ways as it’s fall selection, and I for one cannot wait to take part. I would really encourage you to get a copy of the book (available at Koorong and Word in Australia) and take part of the study, there’s something special about gathering in a community to share a journey like this.
And if you need any more convincing, watch the clip below, you won’t regret it:
Now, go make art.
Alison Jane Again 