June feels like the cusp of summer, with the temperatures getting warmer, children finishing up school, and vacation plans being drawn. The painting for this month feels like June to me, with the warmth of the sun along with the fluffy clouds. This painting is a special one and I’m looking forward to telling you about it.
“As Your Days, So Your Strength Shall Be” is the title of this painting, taken from Deuteronomy 33:25. It was commissioned as a gift from my client to their friends – one of whom was battling cancer at the time. Working with my client, we wanted an image that could convey hope and strength to encourage their friends through this difficult season of their lives. The two trees represent the couple, standing in resilience as a new day dawns, held by Love. The pines in this piece are inspired by a photo that the couple had taken themselves. This painting now has a home in Hong Kong.
The sky and water for this piece is based on a reference photo from Adobe Stock images. It’s interesting for me to look at it now and see how much my skills and style have developed since I completed this over a year ago in January 2021.
The scripture verse for this month is the same as the title for the painting: “As your days, so will your strength be” (Deut 33:25). June is typically a busy month for many people – especially those with kids in school or who are teachers – and I wanted to include a reminder of God’s promise for us. Personally, as I write this, I am in the midst of many events and responsibilities, and I need to remember that God will give me strength for each day. This verse also invites me to focus on today and not worry about tomorrow. I’m quite adept at living in the future in my mind so it is helpful to remember that God promises strength for each day as it comes.
Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: What element(s) of this painting communicate God’s strength to you? Where in your life are you looking to God for strength? How are you being invited to focus on today instead of living in the future?
If you enjoyed this post and want to read about the stories behind all the paintings in this year’s calendar, remember to sign up so future posts get delivered to your email! I am aiming to post them the second Friday of each month. (You might need to check your promotions or junk folders if you don’t see it.)
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!