At this moment in time my life is perfect. I am loved - really loved. We are healthy. We have family, grandchildren, jobs we love and a beautiful home. I am able to paint when I feel the urge or inspiration. I am truly blessed.
It hasn't always been this way. Losing my first husband and my mother's gradual descent into dementia has been the most difficult period of my life. I just read today Romans 5:3-4 "...but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."
The rough times are not over, but I will be purposefully thankful for these moments of today.
Sufferings can bring out the best in us and the worst in us. In my case, I like to think that for the most part, the best has been brought out. For example, many of my paintings are a direct result of pain or joy in my own life or someone else's. Faith was painted during a time of stress and realization of God's intervention. Could Be, Precious and Judy's Garden were painted as a form of sympathy for friends and family going through tough times. My recent Sunset Series started as a result of joy, rest and fresh inspiration.
The biggest question is how we deal with our stress. Do we wallow in self pity (I surely did many times), or do we ask God for help us? He wants nothing more than to have a relationship with us, not just during the tough times, but also during the joyful times. I enjoyed the paraphrasing of the famous poem Footprints of Jesus, where someone changed the wording to "see those footprints in the sand? That's where I walked beside you. See the ridge in the sand? That's where I dragged you..."
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| Looking West - Inspired by a sunset sonnet by Malcolm Guite |
