ART STORY: "The Celebration of You" - God Celebrates Every Birth
As I was contemplating this piece and what it should be called, I heard the words, “The Celebration of You”. I believe there are many people who were born into this world and were never celebrated. There are many babies whose entrance into this world was seen as a burden or regret or a mistake or a vile thing. Those babies have grown up into children, teenagers, adults and parents who are performing on the outside to hide the pain they feel on the inside that is rooted in sorrow surrounding the day of their birth; the un-embraced beauty of their existence. This painting is a message to those babies: there was someone present on the day of your birth that celebrated you and that was your Heavenly Father, Your ‘Abba’ (Daddy) God The God of all Creation wants you to know, He Celebrates YOU! As you view this paining, I pray you received the joyful song, like a release of confetti, that God sings over you.
“For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs."
Zephaniah 3:17 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, When I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.”
Psalm 139:13-18
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It was such a humble privilege to meet Toni (on the left), who is the new owner of this painting entitled "The Celebration of You". When I asked her why she chose this painting, it was hard for her to speak because she was so moved to tears. She shared with me that it was the meaning behind the painting, especially the scriptures I mentioned, which deeply moved her. Toni actually bought the painting to give to her (pregnant) daughter for a Christmas present. Toni said she told her daughter that she bought her a present "that she will enjoy forever."
