Just some interesting art that I ran across on the web: http://zulu-eos.deviantart.com/gallery/. It made me reflect on the wonderful gift of creativity and how we should really nurture and encourage children to be more creative because when we do, we teach them to embrace the creativity of the image of God in us all. Of course this creativity needs to be redeemed by Jesus, but if we stomp and stifle that desire to create early on by teaching our children that being creative is a waste of time, that there's no intrinsic value in it, then we basically conform them to the demands of the world where value is based on efficiency and productivity. And maybe that's where you're at, but I believe our value should never be based on what we do, but on rather who we are.
Our redemption is solely based on who we are in Christ. To be save by grace means that our salvation does not come from, nor will it ever be based on what we do: it truly is a gift from God (Eph 2:8-9). So, the more that we indoctrinate our children into efficiency, the more I believe we push them towards a works-righteousness, even legalism. Maybe, if we allowed them to be creative and to pursue those things that inspire them to celebrate creation; they'd get a better grasp on what amazing grace is all about.
