We all have life stories to tell. Life is much more interesting than fiction could ever be ( having said that I must confess I am an avid fiction reader). One of my stories began with a young teenage girl named Samantha Williams. She was about thirteen when she was diagnosed with cancer. I was singing in the church choir at the time, and could see her in the front row surrounded by all of her friends. That made a huge impression on me. I wanted to do something for her family, but nothing seemed to be right. At the time I was painting landscapes and a few other commissioned paintings, along with decorative nicknacks. It didn't seem appropriate to give a landscape painting or a nicknack to a family who might be losing their daughter to cancer. In the midst of this, I found out we were going to be moving. Unfortunately, I had to begin to focus on making a move across the country with two small children of my own.
After all was unpacked and settled, I began to meet some new friends. One of my new friends saw some of my artwork and asked if I ever took commissions for portraits. I had been drawing and painting faces ever since I can remember, but a portrait was another matter altogether. Trying to get a likeness seemed far beyond what I was capable of. I told her no. I did not paint portraits. She persisted however, and finally I told her I would attempt it. I took her photo into a tiny spare room that I was using as a studio. I put all of my pastels out and faced the paper on the easel. "If I can not capture this face in one hour, I am going to tell her it cannot be done" I said to no one in particular. Looking back on it now, I believe I was speaking to one in particular. God. I painted the little girls face in one hour, and it looked like her! Long story short.....I began to paint commissioned portraits in Monterey California. I painted 10 portraits before we had to up and move again. The funny part was that we were moving right back to where we had come from.......Bartlett TN.
Making the move back was also filled with sadness. Recently I had learned that Samantha had passed away. I found myself grieving for her family. I was frustrated with myself, because I had not done anything for this precious family when I had had the chance. What could I possibly give them now? The answer came as I drove through a very desolate, empty desert on the way back to Bartlett TN. Once again, I found myself thinking about Samantha and her family. I again pondered what I could have done for them. The difference was that this time I heard a voice ever so clearly.... "Oh but you can do something for the Williams. While you were in Monterey you learned how to paint portraits. You did not know that you could do that, but I did. You can paint a portrait of Samantha for her parents.....and give it to them as a gift from your heart to theirs" I sat in stunned silence knowing that the Lord had spoke to me. I could do this for her family. I had something to give them now, that I did not have before. I considered this for many days, but in the end knew that I had been given a mission.
After we had settled into our house and the packing was once again unpacked....hopefully for a very long time.....I contacted the pastor of our church and told him what I wanted to do. I was very nervous, and shy, so I asked him to approach the family on my behalf. He did and they were thrilled with the offer. I met with them and will never be able to put into words the suffering that they were going through. As they shared Samantha's life with me through photo's and words, it blessed us all. I painted Samantha's portrait. I poured my heart and soul into it. I have done numerous portraits since then, but Samantha's portrait will always stand out....because through her portrait God changed my heart!
0 comments:
Post a Comment