Grief, Joy & Art

Some stories just beg to be told! This account is the true love story of a couple who commissioned a work of Christian art and a celebration of their journey of faith through grief and loss.

Art is usually sufficient visual language for storytelling. As an artist, painting or sculpting satisfies my desire for creative expression. I only put down my brush when I sense that the work is somewhat complete-definitely not perfect, merely that the art has articulated some of the fuzzy intentions of my imagination. But not this time.

David and Rachel's account of victory over grief needed words in addition to the art. Only words could express the nuances of their journey after they both lost their spouses unexpectedly. Their paths through the wilderness of grief begged to be shared even more than the details of their commissioned painting, which is also expressed in this book. The real names of the flesh and blood cast of this romance were changed to respect their privacy, but that in no way diminishes the truth of this account.

What would you do if you lost the love of your life after 25 precious years of marriage? When grief threatens to overwhelm how do you overcome?

This book is for you if

• you know Jesus is the Comforter, but can't imagine how He works in the depths of grief.
• you love art and true accounts about how contemporary Christian artists are used for His purposes.
• you are a Christian, strengthened by testimonies of victory over darkness.
• you are held captive by depression, grief or sadness and are searching for hope.

Told from my perspective as an artist and in David's (my client) own words from journal entries, this raw account of grappling with and overcoming grief is a compelling narrative. As a true story, it offers an uncommon glimpse of the depths of the human spirit, reaching for Jesus Christ in helplessness, to find Him completely faithful as Savior and Redeemer.

The power of this account is not because of miraculous or supernatural happenings. Those, while entertaining, merely titillate the senses, rarely encouraging steadfast faith in the face of great loss. In the mundane, plodding way of life the supernatural is not the norm, ordinariness is.

David and Rachel's triumph came through the seemingly inconsequential, but extremely difficult, act of taking God at His word and trusting in His intention of good for them, despite the tragedy that had visited them.

As Christians we are strengthened by true stories of overcoming difficulty by faith. What God has done for another, He promises to do for each of us, if we respond in faith. He is unchanging. From generation to generation, He remains steadfast. Remembering His ways through testimonies is a powerful way to build faith and to overcome the struggles of life.

If you are trapped in a night season, may David and Rachel's account impart hope to win your own victory from any kind of loss to attain the blessing of joy!

Impossible, you think? Not after you read their story!