Allowance, Earned Or An Entitlement

I remember when I was growing up, I wasn't just 'given' money for nothing, I had to earn my allowance. And before anyone wonders if it was child labor... it was. No, not really, it was simply doing my chores before I got my allowance.

By chores I don't just mean cleaning my room either. Your bedroom is 'your room' so you shouldn't get paid for that.

No, by chores I mean; cutting the grass, taking out the trash regularly, washing the dishes, etc...

The problem I see today is that kids want the money but don't want to do the work. Then they begin to think the world operates the same way. They go on believing that if they just ask for something, it will land in their lap without any effort on their part, short of asking for it.

Again, I'm not talking about breaking your child's back with work that should have been done by adults either.

I wouldn't ask an 8 year-old to move all the living room furniture outside and then have them proceed to lay down new carpet while you, the parent, sips ice tea in the front porch swing.

Instead, it would be easy enough just to ask your child to help you plant some flowers, cut the grass 'with' you or some other cleaning job that needs to be done. Sure you could have done it alone and it would have been just fine but what's the harm in asking your child for help.

Now some would say you shouldn't bribe your child to help with those type things but my thought is that if you're going to give them the money anyway... why not spend quality time with 'em as well.

It has to begin somewhere and often times people try to go from nothing to overloading their kid with a new parenting idea. I'm not saying to ask them to do twenty chores before giving them their allowance. No, start off just asking for help with odd things around the house without even mentioning the word chore.

Just remember, at the end of the day it isn't about the money. It isn't even about the job that needed to be done.

It's about parents spending time, not money, with their kid(s).

(Oh and in case your child protests that 'this is wrong' – I recommend cutting spending until they learn it isn't free.)

How To Sell Your Christian Art Online?

There's a great feeling that comes from sitting down, pencil in hand, while you let the creativity flow... but then it happens.  Your stomach growls from hunger and t make it worse you go to look in the fridge and discover the power is off because the bill wasn't paid.

HA yeah, that wouldn't be too much fun and I really feel sorry for anyone that it's happened to.

In all seriousness though, it's all well and good to create beautiful works of Christian art but then what?  Surely you don't want to keep it all to yourself??

What is Christian Art?

So you may be wondering "What is Christian Art?" or "How's it different than Secular Art?"

Well both of those are honest questions, and I'll answer them with my own opinion of course.  I don't deny others may have a completely different view on them but hey, this isn't their blog haha.


Okay, so lets tackle the first question...

New Artwork - "Count Your Blessings"

"Count Your Blessings" was inspired by the thought that Easter is first and foremost about what Jesus did on Calvary. If you look closely, the blue Easter Egg has a cross in the middle and that is exactly where it belongs. The Cross should be in the center of our lives.

It is a 9x12 original water color painting but can be cut down to 8X10 if needed.

Materials:
watercolor paint, watercolor sketch pencil, 108 lb Royal and Langnickel paper


The above painting is available for purchase at my etsy store (link below) and prints will be available soon.
His Love In Art

New Artwork - "Looking to God"

"Looking to God" was inspired by mother's collection of porcelain birds. For years I would see them in the china cabinet and as I sat down with my watercolors, art paper and Christian music, I decided to put God's little bird on paper the best I could.

It is a 9x12 original water color painting but can be cut down to 8X10 if needed.

Materials:
watercolor paints, watercolor sketch pencil, 140 lb cold press masters touch paper







The above painting is available for purchase at my etsy store (link below) and prints will be available soon.
His Love In Art