When I think about the Thirteenth Article of Faith, the part about seeking things that are virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy stands out to me. I love finding beautiful things and getting ideas for something I do in my home with it or could make it. But I think the article of faith asks me to pay attention to more than whether something looks good. I also need to think about how it makes me feel and what my life is getting from it.
I love things. I love beautiful things, weird things, things that make me stop and look a little longer. I love art and design and seeing how someone else’s mind works through what they create. A color combination, an unusual piece of furniture, or a little detail in a painting can get me thinking about all kinds of possibilities. But sometimes it becomes too much. Too many ideas, too many things I want to try, even bringing too many things into my home. What started as inspiration can become overload.
That is where I need to pause and think about what Heavenly Father wants me to do with my time and creativity. I believe He has given me talents and interests for a reason, but that does not mean I need to pursue every idea that catches my attention. Sometimes I get so busy looking at what I could do that I leave very little time to actually make something, help someone, or listen for direction.
I can ask Him to help me know what is worth my attention right now. Maybe that means using my creativity to make someone feel loved, help a client feel less overwhelmed, or create something my family can enjoy. It might also mean putting a project aside because someone needs my time. I want to leave enough room in my day to recognize those promptings and follow them. There will always be another beautiful thing to look at, but I want to notice what God is asking me to do with what He has already given me.
