I have to admit, I’ve done this before… or at least thought about it. Some things are just too good. My husband makes a fantastic lobster bisque. I picture myself lapping it up just like this panda.

Have you ever considered the immense variety of tastes and smells? There are strong pungent odors that we recognize instantly: fish, baking bread, garlic just to name a few. What about smells that bring back memories: cookies baking, watermelon in summer, a roasting turkey, etc. God is so good to give us the joy of tasty food.

When I had Covid, I experienced, like many others, not being able to taste or smell. Oh, how we rely on those sense! I realized how valuable taste and smell are for our survival. Not being able to tell if a food is good or bad can really affect your gut. Not being able to smell smoke if there is a fire, or natural gas if there is a gas leak.

But God, in His ultimate wisdom, knows what we need and created our bodies with the wonderful gift of tasting and smelling, not only to protect us; but also to allow us to thoroughly enjoy every bite.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

  –  Psalms 34:8 

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Do you ever have years where you say to God – “I can’t take much more?” 2022 was one of those years for my husband and I. The entire year from start to finish was riddled with major life events: deaths of friends and parents, a son falling off a roof, a mother falling and breaking her pelvis, moving an elderly parent, the birth of our first grandchild – just to name a few. By the end of that challenging year, I felt like I had done one too many rounds in the boxing ring!

My regular painting sessions seemed non-existent. Every time I picked up my brushes, my inspiration seemed to fly away like my strength. And looking back at the artwork I was able to finish that year, I can definitely tell that my heart and mind were suffering.

But, in the very last days of 2022, God gave me this Ostrich face to paint. Animals are a favorite subject of mine. They can exhibit such a range of emotions. So when I finished this painting I realized I was staring at the face of my mother. Now I know it seems strange to liken your mother to an Ostrich, but the expression captured in the painting is the same as my mother’s. Such loving kindness!

My mother died in July of 2022 from the effects of Alzheimer’s Disease. Anyone who has ever witnessed a person go through the stages of Alzheimer’s understands that it is incredibly difficult. The person you know slowly fades into a person very different.

So looking at the Ostrich face, it dawned on me that God gave me this painting to help me heal from my mom’s passing. Art can allow us to work through life’s challenges. We can’t make the hardships go away, but we can ask our loving Father to help to heal and see Him actively involved in our lives each day.

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I love the expressions of animals. The other day I got out of my car at my son and daughter-in-law’s house to watch my granddaughter for a few hours. They have two dogs that love to greet visitors. The male dog, Samson, is a fantastic hunter bringing home all kinds of critters. He then proceeds to “gift” them to the 2nd dog named Blueberry. She is shy but loves his “gifts”.

So as I’m greeting the dogs, I notice the latest prize that Samson has given Blueberry. She had to show off by carrying around the lifeless chipmunk that was lovingly bestowed on her. She was so proud and wanted me to see it. I choked down the repulsion I was feeling and instead praised both dogs for their trophy. Treasure is definitely in the eye of the beholder or in this case the mouth!

This painting, “Did I Do Good?”, evokes the emotion that a child or in my case the dogs, display as they look up at me for approval. Is it OK? Did I do good?

Don’t we also in a spiritual sense look up into our Heavenly Father’s eyes and ask the same question? Am I on the right road? Making the right decisions? Glorifying You, Father, in what I do each day?

The mercy of God is never-ending:

Psalms 57:10  For thy mercy is great unto the heavens and thy truth unto the clouds.

He views us, His children, with compassion that is beyond what we can ever understand. So even though we might be carrying around our own prize of a “dead chipmunk,” be assured that your Heavenly Father will praise the beauty of your offering for His Glory!

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Aenean lacinia bibendum nulla sed consectetur. Donec sed odio dui. Duis mollis, est non commodo luctus, nisi erat porttitor ligula, eget lacinia odio sem nec elit. Praesent commodo cursus magna, vel scelerisque nisl consectetur et. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nullam quis risus eget urna mollis ornare vel eu leo. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec id elit non mi porta gravida at eget metus. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Sed posuere consectetur est at lobortis. Maecenas sed diam eget risus varius blandit sit amet non magna. Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla.

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Aenean lacinia bibendum nulla sed consectetur. Donec sed odio dui. Duis mollis, est non commodo luctus, nisi erat porttitor ligula, eget lacinia odio sem nec elit. Praesent commodo cursus magna, vel scelerisque nisl consectetur et. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nullam quis risus eget urna mollis ornare vel eu leo. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec id elit non mi porta gravida at eget metus. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Sed posuere consectetur est at lobortis. Maecenas sed diam eget risus varius blandit sit amet non magna. Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla.

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Aenean lacinia bibendum nulla sed consectetur. Donec sed odio dui. Duis mollis, est non commodo luctus, nisi erat porttitor ligula, eget lacinia odio sem nec elit. Praesent commodo cursus magna, vel scelerisque nisl consectetur et. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nullam quis risus eget urna mollis ornare vel eu leo. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec id elit non mi porta gravida at eget metus. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Sed posuere consectetur est at lobortis. Maecenas sed diam eget risus varius blandit sit amet non magna. Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla.

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