Well friends, here we are starting the second half of this year. In our household, July comes with a bunch of birthday celebrations and the hopefulness of summer. The painting for this month is also a celebratory one, but for a different occasion. Here’s the story:
“May Love Bring You Home to Each Other” was a wedding gift commissioned by one of my dear friends and repeat collectors. Her daughter was getting married and she asked if I could paint a scene from Keats Island, where her daughter and now husband shared many memories, including their engagement and wedding. It was such an honour to create this keepsake for the couple, knowing that it carried such meaning for them.
The title for this piece came from the last two lines of John O’Donohue’s blessing “For Marriage” which reads:
“As spring unfolds the dream of the earth,
May you bring each other’s hearts to birth.
As the ocean finds calm in view of land,
May you love the gaze of each other’s mind.
As the wind arises free and wild,
May nothing negative control your lives.
As kindly as moonlight might search the dark,
So gentle may you be when light grows scarce.
As surprised as the silence that music opens,
May your words for each other be touched with reverence.
As warmly as the air draws in the light,
May you welcome each other’s every gift.
As elegant as dream absorbing the night,
May sleep find you clear of anger and hurt.
As twilight harvests all the day’s color,
May love bring you home to each other.”
– John O’Donohue, To Bless the Space Between Us, page 136, Doubleday, 2008, First Edition, USA
I hoped that the title, the poem, and the piece itself would serve to bless them as they embarked on their journey as a married couple.
I chose this piece for the month of July because this month marks their one year anniversary (Happy Anniversary!!). The scene also reminds me of a summer sunset and felt like a great fit for this month. I hope that it offers you moments of calm and contentment, and that it reminds you that you are held by love.
For those with the Scripture calendar:
I paired this month’s painting with the verse from John 15:9 (MSG), which reads, “Make yourselves at home in my love.” It’s an invitation for our restless souls to come and settle in. It also makes me think of how home is a safe place where we can let down our guards and be completely ourselves, however we happen to feel.
Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: If home is a place of love, how far or close to home do you feel? What is your response to the invitation to make yourself at home in love? What’s holding you back?
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As always, I love to hear from you! If something in this story resonated with you, if you’re interested in commissioning a painting, or if you have other thoughts, feel free to email or connect with me on Facebook or Instagram. Thanks for being part of my journey and for letting me be a part of yours!