Are you a leader?
I’ve never really thought of myself as a leader, but I’m always pegged as a leader by others. I think its because I am tall. Which I realize sounds absolutely ridiculous, but I swear its true. I’m tall, and I am type-A which means I get things done. So, I get pegged as a leader when I have never necessarily felt gifted in that area. Last Sunday, my church began a sermon series on biblical leadership, and I was reminded that each of us is called to be a leader. (Link to the sermon – “For God’s Sake, Lead!”) Not in the sense that we should all be standing up in front of crowds or delivering charismatic speeches to the masses, but in the sense that God places us all in a very specific sphere of influence. My current sphere of influence is made of three young children who look to me for so many of their needs. At the same moment that I realized that to them I am a leader, I also realized my influence with them will only shrink from here on out. I have a limited amount of time to connect and lead these young hearts before the rest of the world comes crashing in. It’s a huge responsibility!
“Do not be conformed to the age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God” -Romans 12:2
Looking at this verse through the lens of leadership shows us that we are called to be a different kind of leader. We are called to transform those in our circles, not just interact in the transactional nature of our culture. We need to be leaders that make ripples, not leaders that drain those around us. For me, that means showing up every day and doing the hard work of parenting, teaching, and leading my kids. The hope is that they will someday go forth and lead others, creating ripples that may just change the world.
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” -Mother Teresa
As I sat down to journal the notes I had from Sunday’s sermon, I knew I wanted to capture the idea of the ripples in water. Jane Davenport’s gorgeous collage napkins jumped into my mind immediately, so I went through my stash and found this gorgeous girl who looked like she belonged in water. I layered another napkin behind her that had the deep blue color of water.
The “napkin technique” is one of the easiest ways to boost up the details of a journaling page with very little effort. Simply seek out a beautiful napkin that sets the stage for a page. Many of these decorative napkins have more than one layer or ply to them. Carefully remove any extra layers, leaving only the layer with the design you prefer. This keeps the image somewhat translucent so that text can be read beneath the napkin.
To apply the napkin to the page, I quickly prep the page with gesso, lay the image on while it is still wet, and then gently apply more gesso on top of the napkin. Be careful not to rip the napkin while applying the top coat. It is just that easy! As the gesso drys, it looks like the image is drawn or painted directly on the page. Beautiful!
The ripples are drawn on with NeoColor II crayons, and then brushed out using a water brush. I also used a Spectrum Noir clear glitter brush marker to add sparkle to both the water and to the hair of the girl on the page. The crown is a rub-on from Jane Davenport, and meant to remind me that no matter how difficult the situation may feel, I am the daughter of the King. A quick mix of stamping and stickers completed my title, and I boxed in sermon points with a die-cut frame from my stash. With a tab and a date, my page was done! It was a quick page, but looks so detailed with all of the layers!
Do you think of yourself as a leader? Who is in your sphere of influence? Let me know in the comments below!
Keep it creative,
-The Scrappy Wife
Supplies used:
Leadership, in its truest form, is genuine service to others…giving value to those deemed priceless, resulting-in joy.
Awesome artwork too! #YOU_ARE_AMAZING