When we are young and the desire to love is first awakened in the human soul, most of us fall into a familiar trap: believing that finding a “great love” is the ultimate answer to our deepest human longings.
I have experienced this chase in my own life, and I saw it play out vividly during my years as a middle school teacher. For 7th graders, the feelings of first love are so strong, so compelling, that they will sacrifice almost anything to pursue them. Unfortunately, the inevitable rejection that often results from unrequited love can be devastating, bringing immense despair to a young heart.
A Higher Form of Devotion
With the wisdom of age and the perspective gained from many years of relationship heartaches, I have grown to believe there is a far greater love available to us.
To fall in love with the gifts God has bestowed upon us, and to actively cultivate them, opens a world of wonder that romantic relationships simply cannot match.
The creative works you produce cannot be taken from you. They become a permanent extension of who you are—creations you can revisit like an old friend who delights the soul.
Lately, the reality of how deeply God cherishes the creativity of our youth has been weighing beautifully on my mind. I wrote the following poem twenty years ago to express these exact sentiments while working as a middle school literacy teacher.
Pockets of Poems, Prayers, and Promises
If God had pockets stitched
Upon His chest of gold
I’m sure our youth could find
Their treasures in His hold
For not one work of art
Has fallen from His hand
But stored secure and safely
Displayed as fine and grand
Delightful poems are nestled
Revealing heart and soul
With mothers’ prayers and longings
For children to be whole
Here promises are noted
As dreams wished on a star
And keys unlocking futures
Will open who you are
— JoDee Luna, April 2, 2006
Moving the Conversation Forward
So, what does it look like to fall in love with the gifts God has bestowed?
- It looks like protective devotion. Just as you protect a relationship, you protect your creative time. You make space for it, prioritize it, and refuse to let the noise of the world crowd it out.
- It looks like unconditional acceptance. It means loving your messy sketches, your raw first drafts, and your unfinished ideas simply because they came from your soul, without immediately judging their commercial value.
- It looks like spiritual partnership. Recognizing that your talent isn’t just a hobby—it’s a collaborative dialogue between you and the Creator.
Over to You: Join the Conversation
- Have you ever experienced a season where creating brought you more healing than a human relationship ever could?
- If you were to treat your creative gifts like a “great love,” what is one small thing you would change about your daily routine this week?
Leave a comment below—I’d love to hear your reflections.
Breathe inspiration into your creative space. Premium canvas and framed prints of “Use Your Talents” are available in multiple custom sizes through my Fine Art America Store.
JoDee Luna Art 