Recently I noticed that there seems to be a theme of change in my choice of painting subjects. What I produced matched my emotional state/mood at that time.

Let me explain. The painting below, circa 1989. Those were bleak years (not on the surface, but inside me).

Only “the grace of God” and my passionate desire to serve Him and trust Him to heal the damage from terrible decisions I had made, got me through those years.

Then, after a time of turmoil, I realized I would be leaving Florida, (home for 35 years). So, I painted the sun as I watched it, and the life I had known, disappear.

The sunset seems to represent an ending, and the turbulent sky?? – maybe the scary unknown that lay ahead of me.

During this ‘season’ I received a letter from Russia. Anastasia sent it, and it is posted earlier on my blog. After her encouraging letter I put a small sign on my refrigerator.

“DON’T EVER GIVE UP”. It is still there – for many reasons!

Love returned to my life in 2003, and we married. We discovered that life can have new beginnings at any age. The prevailing theme of our lives was “a new Dawn”. Sunrises reminded us that every day God gives us another new beginning. But I only had 12.5 years with him.

This was done in acrylics, not oils. The view was from balcony of where we often stayed. I grew up near Lake Michigan, and, for me, time near the water has always been a time of healing and/or growing.

Now I’m 79, and I’ve lived and loved and learned. Change and seasons of love and loss are inevitable.

But, what I never expected was that Love would find me again. This old lady is enjoying life again; rich with new friends, blessed with more travels, and wrapped up with love for/from a precious man that I met at church. We’ve been married just over a year.

In this special ‘season’ where I am now considered ‘elderly’, I often think more about heaven and life beyond living here in our ‘earthen vessels’. …because, there is one love I have had my whole life….and His name is Jesus.After watching the movie “I CAN ONLY IMAGINE”, I also discovered an awesome painting by Kerolos Safwat, called “First Day in Heaven”.

The first 3 paintings referenced above had been on a shelf or in boxes for many years. A few months ago, while “nesting” and resettling into my new life, I put the paintings up – on the same wall!

Only then did I notice that each one uniquely represented my mood at the time.

We often hear that the fruit we produce is evidence of what is in our heart.

Suddenly I ‘saw’ that each one quite accurately depicted how I was feeling – though I didn’t realize it at the time.

Matthew 7:16-18 By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit.

The ‘fruit’ isn’t necessarily obvious like a painting. It could be words we use or our body language. Maybe it’s aggressive driving or avoiding a healthy lifestyle.

I hope that what I shared might help others to notice the fruit they are producing and ask for help, if help is needed. Or pray and pray some more. Or just hang on, because someone who loves you is praying for you.

Take time to “see” your fruit. Or listen when someone provides their “observation” of your good or bad fruit (compliments or criticisms). And take time to savor the joy of learning, changing and growing.

Philippians 4:7  And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, [that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours]. 

And may the Lord fill your life with “the peace that passes understanding” – always.

Nancy