I would be the first to admit that I have no artistic ability. Oh, I know what I like and I have strong opinions about how I think that things should look but when it comes to creating beautiful objects or art, that is well beyond me. The closest I come to a creative pursuit (besides my love for words) is baking and, trust me, simplicity is key.

That kind of artistic ability is a gift I so admire. Whether it is to paint an image on a canvas, to see the sculpture that could exist with a piece of marble, to weave a story in multi-colored threads, all of these and many others are ways to share ideas, vision and beauty. Try as I might, I cannot even fully imagine that kind of gift, to envision and then create.

It has been a joy, and a wonder, to see that kind of ability blossom in my oldest son. He is a person with many extraordinary gifts and that has been clear for his entire life. He is bright and articulate, perceptive and wise. And, in ways that I did not expect, he is an artist. He has begun working with various media and creating beautiful things. I knew that working in wood was something he’d been doing. I sent him a picture of a uniquely designed cutting board I’d seen, thinking I might send him one. Instead, just weeks later, he presented me with one he had made with the same configuration and a far better design than the one I had seen. And he has continued to create many extraordinary things.

There is a lovely wooden vase on my mantel that was his work and today, as a gift for my birthday, he and his family presented me with a wooden bowl that is not just beautiful but amazing. He used an exotic wood and it feels to me as if he found the special characteristics of this piece of wood and brought it to life, as if he, like the sculptor, found the magic in the material. It is a not just a gift, it is a treasure.

It takes my breath away a bit, seeing yet another facet in the man he has become. It is also a reminder to me that growth and change are always possible and that we can all continue to explore and achieve. I am overwhelmed with pride and gratitude, and I am inspired, filling, truly filling my full heart.