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"Though Your Sins Be As Scarlet"

        This painting was created at a time in my life when I felt a great deal of shame, pain and guilt for some of the choices that I had made. My self worth was at an all time low and as I walked through my living room one day, I looked upward and asked out loud “How can you love me? Knowing what I know and having made the choices that I have made, how can you possibly love me?” I heard, in answer to my question, these words from Isaiah; “Come now, and let us reason together saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they will be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

      These words were accompanied with the sweetest feeling of comfort, peace and love, and it was as if I could feel the embrace of one who loved me more deeply and infinitely then I had ever allowed myself to imagine up to that point. These feelings were then followed by the instruction “Now paint this”. This image is what came to my mind at that time and I immediately took out paper and pencil and began to draw and then paint. Everything in the picture is symbolic of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which was accomplished not only for our sins but also to heal the wounds that break our hearts or make us cry no matter what their source or who inflicted them.

         Window Pane - the cross

         Hands of Christ - mercy, love, atoning sacrifice

         Woman’s Right Hand - in taking the hand of Christ she exhibits the act of faith. By so doing, the atonement starts to take effect even though she does not understand how it can possibly happen for her.

         Shirt - by exercising faith, the scarlet or crimson is being washed away.

        Woman’s Left Hand - still hesitates because she feels so unworthy and is not sure if the atonement really can work for her. She is still asking, “How can you love me?”

        Jewelry - ancient symbols that mean eternal. Three shapes represent Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

       Hair - messy, because her life has been messy.

       Woman’s Eyes - right is coming into light, left is still in shadow of doubt and fear, what if she has made too many mistakes for the atonement to be able to cover all of her weakness and transgression? Overall expression “Help thou mine unbelief”

        Shadow Beside Woman - shadow of doubts and fears falling behind her as she steps forward into the light.

        Background - there is a green hill far away, outside the city wall, where the dear Lord was crucified and died to save us all. There is only one path in the picture because there is only one true path for progression. Whether we need to be healed or need to progress spiritually, mentally, physically or emotionally the only true path is through the atonement of the Savior.

        Window Glass – crystal clear, no glare or reflections because Christ sees us as we really are without the glare or reflections of our past mistakes or weaknesses. We are to see as we are seen, so that we may know His love for us and feel His confidence in us so that we can achieve all that we have been sent here to accomplish.

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