"Helping children in need around the world"

"Consider The Lilies"

       This painting is based on the scriptures found in Matthew 6: 25-34 and Luke 12: 22-32. When the inspiration for this painting came to me it was at a time of great trials in my personal life. The man whom I loved passed away and within the same week I was laid off from my job and within a few weeks of those two events I was informed that I would have to move out of the condominium that I was renting. It was a very high stress and worrisome time in my life.

        One afternoon as I was listening to the symphonic version of the song “Consider The Lilies” I suddenly had this image come to my mind and I knew that I was to paint it. It was a very difficult process for me, as I had never painted anything as large as the original of this image. I had certainly never painted birds in flight or even close to life size. The flowers in the foreground were also life size and I was certain that I did not have the talent or the skill to pull this off. The feeling would not leave me however and I knew that I had to put my doubts and fears aside and do the work that was before me.

        I believe that the reason that I was to paint this image was so that God could teach me a little bit about me and a lot about Him. As I painted I realized that the lilies that I felt prompted to choose were representative of major areas of the world signifying that all people must have faith and trust in the God who created them. The second principle that was being strongly impressed upon my mind and heart at the time was that God in all His wisdom and power created this world and that very creation was done for our benefit.

       This world was created for us, not us for it, and if our Heavenly Father is so concerned for our progress and development that he would create such a learning environment for us and maintain it in all it’s wonder and beauty, then wouldn’t he also be concerned with how we do in our individual experiences? If He is concerned with the well being of His birds and other creatures and even with the beauty of our environment then wouldn’t He also be concerned over the tears that we cry or the difficulties that we face and the joys that make those hard times worth enduring? Of course He is, and He is never distracted though at times he must be silent in order for us to fully experience the lessons we are being tutored in.

       Just as a concerned parent watches as their child learns to ride a bike, it is a certainty that the child will fall off the bike a time or two, will skin knees and shed some tears because of either frustration or injury. However, in order for that child to progress the parent has to encourage the child to keep getting back on the bike even if it means another tumble and more tears. That great parent and teacher is gladly willing to be there to comfort and console when it doesn’t come easily and offers the understanding that comes from knowing how this journey goes sometimes, it’s often a bumpy ride, it’s easy to get hurt and just as easy to become discouraged and exhausted by the constant effort of trying again.

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