After I posted a photo of the oil painting "Kayaking Caravan" on Facebook, up popped a much-appreciated request to paint a landscape.  Well, I can't say it was 'just' a landscape.  Cecelia Ford, the amazing woman who approached me, actually wanted her husband and sons in the painting as well.  She wanted it as a unique Christmas gift for Dan, her husband, that would be more precious and more memorable than a new shirt.  She wanted a creative, lasting reminder of a trip her husband and boys took last summer and wanted it large enough for over her mantel or bed.  "How about 2 feet by 3 feet?" she said.  "Perfect!" I answered.  I love big!  She sent me a slew of photos on a CD.  I noticed these reference photos looked strikingly familiar.  Even though I live in Florida and so does she, it looked like my precious homeland in Minnesota.  Strange, thought I.  So like a good little artist sleuth, I inquired, "Where were these photos taken?" And, amazingly, the father and sons had taken a trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area based out of my exact hometown, Ely, Minnesota!  Coincidence?

As I painted, I felt in my heart to pray for this family.  I couldn't help but be touched by the love Cecelia had for her husband and family.  What sort of woman would want to give her husband a painting like this?  What sort of father would take his boys on a canoe trip to God's Country and bond with them?  What a beautiful family.  Cecelia told me not only was it gorgeous country up there which she would like to hang a painting of in her home, but the boys and their dad had a wonderful experience and that her oldest son was graduating this year and going off to college, so it would be special for them to have this memory painted and cherished for years to come.

I love painting memories, not just still lifes.  Still lifes are fine and there is a time and a place to be still.  But memories are like gold dust we can snatch out of the air, hold in our hearts, and preserve as precious.  And paintings of memories are different from photos because they are an interpretation of color, and value, and scene, and likeness, and heart.  They are priceless jewels so rich and so valuable.  They reflect God's grace in our lives and His fingerprint on our future.

When Cecelia received the painting, she wept.  I wept.  I know that sounds silly.  I know we are both females but this was not a chick flick; this was real life.  I don't want to sound super spiritual here but it was really so amazing I just have to share.  We discussed the symbolism in the painting, not really planned, but that's how God works, so no man (or woman) can boast.  Here are some of our thoughts as we pondered the painting.  Jesus is known as the Rock, the Word is the Rock. We stand on the Rock, we are firmly planted on the Rock.  "He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He."  Deut 32:4  "For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?: 2 Sam 22:32  "For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock."  Psalm 27:5

Then there's the water in the painting. Here we go:   "The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters."  Psalm 29:3.  "As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart." Proverbs 27:19  "The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out."  Proverbs 20:5.  “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."Matt 3:11.  "Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”  John 7:38.  "For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”  Rev 7:17 And so on, and so on.

Then there's the large tree behind Dan, Cecelia's husband:  "The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth."  Daniel 4:11.  "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever he does prospers."  Psalm 1:3  Wow, wow, wow!

The teenage boys are in the canoe, paddling down the lake on their journey of life, the eldest in front and the youngest in back.  Their father is watching over them, on the rock, in the light.  Darkness and shadows are around them but they are protected.  This brings to mind the 23rd Psalm...   ¹ The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.  He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.  Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me..."

The colors are symbolic too.  Green is life and growth, blue, a heavenly color, white for purity and holiness, purples for royalty, golds for light and glory.  When I see Him at work like this, I just want to shout from the mountain tops a big, hearty "WOW!!  You are AWESOME, God!"  

What a pleasure to share.  To God be the glory.  It is so cool to be used by Him.  If you want a memory painted, or know of anyone that might want a memory painted, I would be happy to help.  Email me at [email protected] or [email protected] or fill out the comment section on this site.   Enjoy and God bless! 

Laura