There are seasons of Life when things
seem bleak and cold. We lose a job
we've had for years, or the kids are all
gone and we seem to have lost our way -
maybe even our purpose. Whatever it is
in your life, I painted this painting
for you. In this final painting of the
Seasons of Life series - "A Time to
Rest," the momma bear no longer has her
cubs to take care of; her work is done.
A cold blanket of fresh snow has covered
her world, the chill of the winter wind
is creeping in, and life seems
undesirable. I've had times in my
life like this. I didn't want to get up
and start a new day because something so
bad was looming in front of me, that I
could not face it. One such occasion,
during a cold winter day, I was lying on
my bed looking out at the bleak
landscape feeling full of despair and
hopelessness. I asked God what He
wanted me to know about what I was
believing. Within a couple of seconds, a
red bird flew down into our courtyard
and flitted around drawing my attention
to some withered and frozen plants that
always come back every spring and I had
the thought, "this season won't last."
And just like that, as if a warm day had
arrived, I was filled with hope and rose
up to face my world with joy. "Thank
You, God!" Notice in this
painting, where the warm light washes
over the cold snow, I am drawing you in
with the shadows that lead to the mother
bear, and with the turn of her head
looking at the new arrival in the tree
across the stream, the painting speaks,
"the adventure is still going!" Rise up
and be filled with joy.
~ Mark Keathley
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