The Hidden Art of Homemaking book study, Chapter 2- What is Hidden Art?

If you missed the first week of the study, you can find that at Hidden Art of Homemaking Book Study- Chapter 1 The First Artist.

I don’t know about you, but this week’s reading was very manageable compared to the first chapter. I had expected something very lengthy and when I came to the end of the chapter I was surprised that was it.

Still, short and much more concise than chapter one, Edith Schaffer answers the question of what she calls Hidden Art. What is it? And who has it?

 She considers the Hidden Art to be found in the minor areas of life- not an art form that you would use for your job, but something lurking beneath the surface, something that is unfulfilled. A talent that maybe you don’t even know you have that is waiting to be developed.  

Developing this “Hidden Art” will take time and discipline, but by doing so we can greatly enhance the lives of those that we live around.

She believes Christians of all people have a great responsibility to be creative and to respect and appreciate beauty- since we were created by a Creator.    

We should not waste our time thinking of the things we will do and the fulfillment we will find ‘someday….’ We must start now. We must develop our creativity now. We must not obsess over what we can’t do and focus on what we can do, right now.

Edith concludes the chapter saying that lost or unused creativity is like a limb that was broken and put in a cast. Once the cast comes off, that leg will be stiff but by using those muscles the leg will have skill once again. This book is to help crack off that plaster, to help us break out of that cast and find our lost creativity.

I couldn’t help but think of my life over the past few months as I was reading this chapter.  I have always been what I would consider a creative person but I kind of put that on hold when we were traveling. Moving into our house has really been a breath of fresh air for me. I’ve been very creative lately and it all began with one craft and one small project that has really exploded to the fact that my family now laughs about all of my projects.

The surprising thing is that as I’ve focused on crafting and making our home comfortable my family has been getting involved too, little by little. My daughter has undertaken several adorable projects, my boys have become interested in several woodworking projects and my husband has developed a few new hobbies.

I believe if we make an effort to express and develop our creativity in some form, than those around us will do the same.

What did you think of this week’s reading?