A Journey Through Time: Spring Cleaning Revelations

Over the past few weeks, I finally embraced a task I'd been avoiding for years — spring cleaning at my parents' home. Armed with a mask to protect against the inevitable dust, I dedicated a few precious hours each week to this mission.

Little did I know that beneath the layers of dust were God's gentle reminders of His faithfulness in my artistic journey. Among the treasures, I discovered an A6-sized diary from my primary school days, its pages adorned with watercolor botanicals and carefully selected Bible verses. My heart warmed as I realized how this childhood creation mirrored my current Prayer Journal — a beautiful testament to how the Lord plants seeds of creativity that bloom in His perfect timing.

Among the precious things I found was a note my teacher gave us before our exams, which was in October (around Children’s Day). In Secondary school, we do not celebrate Children’s Day, but some teachers still give us teenagers something small to cheer us up during this stressful period. An encouraging word shared at a proper time is such a blessing. 

There was another gem —  an old art assignment from my secondary school days where we had to design a border or frame edge. I did mine with -botanicals -  using colored pencils. I smiled, recognizing these same elements still grace my artwork today. What seemed like simple childhood doodles were actually early whispers of the artistic path God had planned for me.

Of course, not everything ‘sparked joy’ or purpose. I encountered what I call my "This is very useful" collection — a graveyard of good intentions! Empty name card boxes, forgotten test tubes, untouched colored paper, and partially-filled sketchbooks stood as humble reminders of our human tendency to gather and begin, but not always follow through! 

While much has been cleared away, this process has taught me that letting go is hard, but also uncovers lots of lessons. As I continue this journey of decluttering, I'm reminded of Hebrews 12:1 — laying aside every weight to run with endurance the race set before us. I hope to come out of this season feeling more refreshed and inspired to create something new.