Behind the paintings

Each painting I work on is first bathed in pray as I seek to grow in skills that bring paintings to life, I seek the Holy Spirit's guidance on each stroke of the brush and I have been growing in this practice for the past six months. Three months prior to that my wife, Becky, suddenly passed away. This happened shortly after we decided to start and art business. For three months, I couldn't go back into the studio to finish a painting I that I had titled, "Almost Home."

What drove me back into the studio was the Lord reminding me of a couple to things that happened the day she left this world and entered Heaven. She had been on life support for several days and the decision had been made to discontinue it. A time was set for this to be done with the family all gathered around her hospital bed in prayer. This part is well known by family and close friends, but two things I have not been able to share up to this point, motivates me to press on with the art business, "Majestic Heights Studio."

The evening that life support was to be discontinued, as my son, Michael, and I left the waiting room, heading to my wife's hospital room, I heard footsteps behind us. Thinking that a family member was just behind us. I turned around and was astonished to see nobody in the hallway. I turned back around and continued walking, only hear the footsteps still with us until we entered the hospital room. Several minutes later, the family members arrived.

At the pre-set time, we all held hands and began to pray. I closed my eyes only for a brief second. As I opened my eyes, I fixed my gaze upon the monitor. It only took seconds for all the vitals readings to stop. At that moment I saw brief vison. It was the second vison that I have seen. The first was the day my wife's dad passed away. In the vision I saw a crowd of people that seemed just out of focus and in front of them was a young lady who looked to be in her 20"s or early 30's wearing a brilliant dress running and dancing in front of them, her face was beaming with a broad smile. Suddenly I realized it was my wife, Becky, running with excitement that she was finally home.

God is using the pain of her loss, to motivate and inspire me to move forward and grow in my art skills. I understand that in this season of my life He has a calling and purpose for me and by His grace I will complete that purpose.