Wednesday, March 28, 2012

10 Ways to Teach Your Child they are Beautiful.

This is inspired by a couple stories of parents with dark skinned children needing to teach their sons and daughters that they are precious just the way God made them.  However, with the rise of body image issues in young children, it certainly applies to many if not all children.


1. Start a Pinterest board and include images that look like your child or a variety of children to teach about diversity.
2. Turn off the television.  Images on television only teach children to grow up too fast and to look a couple specific ways.
3. Protest or create awarenes.  You could create awareness using a site such as change.org to help give your child a sense of empowerment.
4. Create a poster.  Here is some inspiration
5. Find birthday cards, books, magazines with people who look like them.
6. If you cant find the items in number 4 use colored pencil to darken the skin color on some of the images.
7. Ask friends to do the same when giving books or cards. This is much more significant than one might first assume. I still remember getting my first card with someone who looked like me on the cover.  I kept it for years.
8. Introduce positive role models of the same race (or whatever aspect they may be struggling with). Please do not show your son any old gangster rap artist and “say you can be anything you want to be.” Athletes may be overused as well.  You may find some here.  I will try to come up with some more lists specifically for this purpose. (Don't worry they won't all be black)
9. Create a beauty blog. This example deals with recovering from eating disorders but you could create one based on any topic.
10. Talk to them.  Tell them they are beautiful and wonderful just the way they are.  Do this every day.

What are some strategies you have used to help your child gain confidence in their physical appearance, or in general?

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Managing Your Temper

If you are like me you have lost your temper a time or two, only to regret it later.  I thought I would share some tricks, quotes, and Bible verses about controlling your temper and the benefits.  Hope this helps you next time you are about to blow.

Photo taken in Haiti.  Check out my art blog to see more art from my Haiti trip
Tricks

New Research: The Nicer the Mom, the Smarter the Kid -  A great post for moms includes ways to not loose your temper at the very end.
Your Diet and Your Temper - MSN Health discusses some foods to calm your temper as well as other ways your mood
10 Tips to Tame Your Temper  - 10 simple actions to help keep your anger levels low

Anger and Your Health

25 Reasons Not to Loose Your Temper  - Includes tips and health reasons
Losing your Temper is Bad for Your Health - and here is why

The Bible Tells Me So...

and if the above info was not enough here are 28 Bible verses about Anger and Managing Your Temper.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Facts About the Shamrock and St. Patrick’s Day

My favorite part about St. Pats day is always the shake

1. St. Patrick used it to symbolize the trinity and triune God.
2. Shamrocks were originally worn to represent crosses.
3. They are now worn on St. Patrick’s feast day.
4.  Short, but Good Video

5. Shamrocks are used to treat snake and scorpion bites.
6. The national symbol of Ireland is not the shamrock but the harp.
7. A shamrock is presented the Irish Guards by a member of the British Royal Family on St. Patrick’s Day.
8. The first written English reference to the shamrock is 1571.
9. St. Patrick was a British slave?
    Link to Video

10.  Several thoughts on the shamrock.

11. I’m not so sure about this video…but enjoy the humor.

12. Misc. Facts and a more in-depth history.  Created by some lil' kids.  The second half is a song.

13. My dad was born on St. Patrick’s Day and his name is Pat. Wish him a Happy Birthday below! 

White girl hair tutorial (it may work on a little black girls hair too, but I don’t know) ; )



More details about the history and symbolism of the shamrock.

PS if you did not catch it, this post is dedicated to my daddy.  Happy birthday again...Love you!!!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Make it Plain: Art Exhibition

RSVP on Facebook
I am proud to announce that Make it Plain will be a part of the 16th Annual Shepard Symposium on Social Justice this year.

For those of you who do not know, Make it Plain is my art exhibition focusing on African American religious culture and history.  You can check out more information and see more images on my Art + Design blog.

The opening for my solo exhibition will be held in the 234 Gallery (in the University of Wyoming Union) on Wednesday, March 28 from 6-8pm directly follow a talk by Tim Wise (one of my favorite social justice speakers out there).  I have created some posters in response to Time Wise...Be sure to look for those.

The show will be up from Monday March 19 - 31.

If you missed my Make it Plain solo exhibition the first time around, be sure to check it out now.  I am proud to say that the first showing was quite a success and I believe this one will be as well.


If you can not make it be sure to check out my Art on Facebook and like the page.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Top 28 Bible Verses about Anger and Managing Your Temper

Untitled Drawing, 4x6, See more drawings on my art blog

Regardless of your religion there is certainly wisdom that can be found in the Christian Holy Book.  Here are 28 Bible verses about anger and managing your temper.  If you are like many of us and struggle with anger or would like to become more peaceful, many of these make great memory verses and/or mantras to incorporate into your daily routine.

Wisdom

1. Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger (Proverbs 29:8).
2. It is to a man's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel (Proverbs 20:3).
3. A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered (Proverbs 17:27).
4. A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless (Proverbs 14:16)
5. A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult (Proverbs 12:16).
6. A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control (Proverbs 29:11).
7. My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires (James 1:19-20).

Character Building

1. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:4-5).

2. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions (Galatians 5:19-20).
3. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful (2 Timothy 2:24).

Speech

1. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret-it leads only to evil (Psalm 37:8).
2. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (Proverbs 15:1).
3. Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing (Proverbs 12:18).
4.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:29-32).


Self-Control and Patience

1. Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control (Proverbs 25:28).
2. A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel (Proverbs 15:18).
3. Do not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!" Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you (Proverbs 20:22).
4. Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city (Proverbs 16:32).
5. A quick-tempered man does foolish things, and a crafty man is hated (Proverbs 14:17).
6. A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly (Proverbs 14:29).
7. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it (Proverbs 4:23)
8. An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins (Proverbs 29:22).

Commands


1.You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, "Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment." But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment ... first go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift (Matthew 5:21-24).
2. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).
3. In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold (Ephesians 4:26-7).
4. Let your gentleness be evident to all (Philippians 4:5).
5. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips (Colossians 3:8).
6. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:9).

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Creativity

"But, ancient Greece and ancient Rome - people did not happen to believe that creativity came from human beings back then, OK? People believed that creativity was this divine attendant spirit that came to human beings from some distant and unknowable source, for distant and unknowable reasons."

Elizabeth Gilbert

Where do you believe creativity comes from?

As a Christian, I disagree with this quote. Creativity comes from us being created in the image of God. He is The Creator of all creators. He is and was the most creative when he created the universe in such detail. We are his craftsmanship.

And as a Christian, I pray that all of my creations point back to him.

I am still curious to hear your thoughts on creativity. What is it? and Where does it come from?

The short book, or essay titled, Art and The Bible, by Francis Schaeffer is a great read on the topic of Christianity and art. You can also find it on audio.