The little girl in the painting is my ten year old granddaughter, Katia. We were invited by friends to, what I told her was a "very fancy" dinner. Katia had this lovely dress that we had found at a thrift store. It looked like a prom dress that someone who was a size 0 probably wore once. Katia fit into it perfectly and with her tiara she really did look like a genuine princess.
The big day arrived and Katia and her her friend, Jenna, were busy playing most of the afternoon. Katia told Jenna what she was going to do that evening and showed her the dress she would be wearing. As the day wore on though, Katia had second thoughts about the dress and decided not to wear it. Jenna wouldn't hear of it and convinced Katia that it was boring to just see the dress hanging in the closet and that she should definitely wear it. that was what Katia needed to hear and she wore the dress. And the tiara. She did, in fact, look like a princess, and carried herself regally. It was all unassuming and I'm sure she acted the way she did because she truly felt like a princess.
Well, there were only a few younger children there and no one, but Katia, looked like royalty. Then a strange thing happened. A little boy came up to her and began tugging on her dress. He wanted Katia to pick him up and although he never said anything he kissed her on the cheek and sought her full attention. I noticed it and began taking pictures. This went on until the dinner was served and toward the end of dinner, a little girl about four years old, came over to our table and shyly said "Hi' to Katia. Katia said "Hi" and asked her what her favorite color was. They chatted for a few minutes and the mother of the little girl came and they went back to their table. I was watching the little girl's face as she spoke with Katia and especially her eyes, when it suddenly struck me that it seemed as though they thought she was a real princess.
Afterward, I went over in my mind the sequence of events; Katia getting the dress, the tiara she wanted so badly for Christmas, Jenna being here the day of the dinner to encourage her to wear the dress, and finally the the way they were all so blessed that night. Katia felt she really gave something of value to the little children I think she did too, she made them feel special. Just like our Heavenly Father wants us all to feel.
As I worked on the painting I saw the love and connection there between the little boy and Katia. I saw God in this. So when I began to get down on myself with the familiar voice of condemnation, I heard another voice...the voice of Truth that told me that if I can see God in the everyday events of life, and I paint them am I not painting "spiritual" paintings? I think I am and I think I am ok with that.
So maybe, once again there is a reminder of God's omniscience and we can find Him everywhere, if we want to look.
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