Pumpkin Painting

The pumpkin I carved lasted less than a week before it molded and this led me to an enlightened conclusion as I painted a different pumpkin.  Even if this pumpkin makes it 2-3 times what the other pumpkin did, that is still too short a time to invest much time or energy. And I thought, "This is why I only paint on things that last."  I honestly was thinking about canvases, wood and stone.
That is when I realized: They don't really last either.  They may last many generations but eventually they decay.  Be there are things that last forever.  Only God and His kingdom (i.e. people).  How sad to spend a lifetime "painting" what is passing away when the opportunity exists to paint what endures: the souls of people.
A few people you will get to "paint" for a lifetime.  You will get to complete a masterpiece made of love, sacrifice, counsel, instruction, and discipleship.  Some of these relationship will also include the brushstrokes of correction, direction and so on.  Others you will only get to sketch the bare design or paint a background of encouragement, compassion, and kindness.  For most people, you will have only a very limited widow of opportunity to add a few details.  But it is worth it, because those lives last for eternity.  And your investment also endures forever.