May 26th, 2015

I was able to get a little further last night on the as yet unnamed Family Service and Guidance painting. The imagery for this painting is inspired by a poem entitled "What is Life" written by a young girl whom also happens to be a FSGC client. I was immediately drawn to this poem written by a child who is clearly seeking wisdom and meaning to give context to her life. As always, before embarking on any new project, I had prayed and asked God to help me find a poem that would give me an opportunity to talk and paint about him. He did not disappoint! 

"What is life? Why are we here? It is a question we all ask. Ask anyone, they won't know. Maybe you're here to serve others. Maybe you're here to make others laugh. Maybe you're here to be a big star. We might go to the end of the earth to know, so what is life?" - Ryleigh M.

These are lofty subjects for a young child and it was exciting to find it amongst the other children's poems. More exciting, though, is the fact that I have the answers to her questions. This painting will be an attempt to provide those answers.

Life is an amazingly precious gift from God. Despite it's priceless value, God loves us enough to allow us to do whatever WE want with our gift. He does, however, want us to do something specific with this gift. He has a special plan for it, that's why he gave it to you. It might sound confusing, but God wants us to give our life right back to him, because he will take better care of it. He also wants us to follow him, but it's our choice. If we do, he will teach us how to make the most of the gift he's given us. And when we follow him, and listen to him, and obey him, we show that we love him. And that's very important to God. He loves us SO much, and he wants us to genuinely love him back with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. And once you have a loving relationship with God, he will reveal his plan for your gift. And it will be bigger than anything you could have imagined for yourself! That can be scary, but God will help you follow the plan, make it through all the hard times, and accomplish every one of his goals. And the very best news of all is that God will give you peace and joy, along with a promise that you will be with him, physically with him, for all of eternity in Heaven.

That is what life is.


(See the finished painting)

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