Christian Living
Learning from Mister Rogers
In episode 1541, Mister Rogers showed a portrait of his father, and announced that the artist who drew it was going to draw a portrait of him. The visit to the house of the artist was full of surprises. The artist was a woman, Dianne Dengel, and her house was full of dolls, which she made and painted, herself, to sell in addition to her paintings. She only painted part of the portrait, and told Mister Rogers that he could go, and she would finish the rest from memory, even though all she had finished were his eyes. But the biggest surprise was that she didn't use any brushes, but paints with her fingers, wads of newspaper, and a small, pointed stick. Partly because of this method, her paintings were like dry watercolor etchings, which she sold, in her younger years, about 10 a week, producing an estimated 30,000 originals, which were printed and reprinted by the millions. She later switched to portraits, which took her all around the country, and included Mister Rogers and Oprah. She even has a line of puzzles which display her paintings. One of the most famous paintings, "Home Sweet Home", is a big seller in Turkey.
When Mister Rogers asked why she never used brushes, she explained that her family was so poor that they couldn't afford them. She scrimped and saved up enough to buy oil paints, and painted on cardboard her mother brought home from work, but there wasn't enough left over to get brushes. Still, the passion inside drove her to be creative, and that drive and the fame that came from her unusual style, has made her well known and able to afford all the supplies she will ever need. Why bring all this up? Because this wonderful woman could have given up, in the face of seemingly overwhelming obstacles, but she didn't. She could have had a pity party, and got jealous of all the kids who were better off than her, and had everything they needed to follow their dreams. She took what looked like a detriment and turned it into an advantage, that set her apart from all the other persons with a talent for drawing. The struggle made her better, not bitter, to quote an old adage. Or as one toothy TV preacher says, "Problems are inevitable; misery is optional." She didn't let disappointment turn to jealousy, and sour her outlook on life. She did the best she could with the talent God gave her, and look what happened! How many of the kids she grew up with, that had better equipment, ever appeared on Mister Rogers? 16 A man's gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men. Prov 18:16
Another artist, who had enough money for drawing supplies, still had a rocky road ahead of him. Though he had great talent, he couldn't support himself on his artwork for many years, and had to work at various odd jobs. He started two businesses that failed. Finally, he had some success with a character names Oswald, the Lucky Rabbit. When he went to the distributor to ask for a higher fee, due to the great popularity of Oswald, he learned that the distributor held the copyright on the Lucky Rabbit, and had secretly hired most of the other artists involved in the project. His work had basically been stolen from him, and he was unemployed again. On the train ride going back home, he didn't plan out what attorneys he would get to sue the devious distributor, or wallow in self pity over the slings and arrows of outrageous misfortune. He came up with a new character, a mouse this time, and eventually Mickey Mouse became even more famous than his creator, Walt Disney, the artist who refused to be a victim and became the victor. Have anybody even heard of Oswald, the Lucky Rabbit lately? The man who stole him cheated himself out of becoming part of the most famous cartoon collection in the world.
And, speaking of cartoon characters, remember the story of Snow White. There was a queen who was very vain, and became jealous of Snow White, because of her good looks. The Queen tried to have her killed, but the plan failed, and the queen resorted to sorcery to eliminate the girl who was more beautiful than she was. Jealousy drove the queen to become a hideous looking old hag with a bag of poison apples. So, if you are becoming a little witchy, could it be from being jealous of some who has more money or talents than you, someone who gets away with things you would never do, or that carnal Christian who God keeps blessing while seeming to ignore all your good deeds? Jealousy over the rich can turn you into a witch, and not put another nickel into your pocket. But it can keep you from prospering in your own way, by robbing you of hope. So, don't be a dope and let it mess up you life with misery and strife.
Old King Saul was a merry old soul until he had a bout with jealousy. Young David fought Goliath and saved the King's army from defeat, but Saul didn't like it when the young maidens sang David's praises in the streets. He got real witchy and tried to kill David, and only God's protection saved him. Eventually, Saul sought out the Psychic hotline and dabbled in witchcraft, which cost him and his son their lives. Way back in the beginning, Cain was jealous of his brother, Abel, because God seemed to prefer him. His jealousy eventually drove him to become the first murderer ever. He lost his happy home and became a cursed wanderer for life. Miriam, the sister of Moses, was jealous because she thought she should be equal to him, and it caused her to become a leper for seven days. There are so many examples in the Bible, and in the world today, of people who ruined their lives by sucking on the poison of jealousy and it gave them a warped outlook on life. They found it impossible to rejoice in someone else's good fortune, no matter how much they deserved it, because of their bad attitude. While stewing in the juices of their own misery, they are unable to enjoy the blessings they do have, and have no joy or peace. Love is out of the question, for their heart is filled with bitterness. What a sad way to spend their time here on Earth, with no reward waiting if they do make it into Heaven.
How much better to 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil 4:4-7 The world can't give you peace and joy, and you sure won't get it from jealousy and envy. Only faith and trust in God can give you the fruit of the spirit, so focus your attention on Him, and not on what others have that you don't. Count your blessings, not your neighbors, to get a good night's sleep, and wake up with a song in your mouth and hope in your heart. 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jer 29:11-13 There is no room in your heart for jealousy if you want God's blessing on your life. 4 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. James 3:14-16 Follow those dreams that God has put in your heart, and trust Him to bring them to pass.
- Bob Snell
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