Treasured Moments by Mark Keathley

Wondering down the trails of time in my mind, I find a constant in my life - I want a companion. Satisfied with the close company and having that person who wants to hold my hand and share a life together, I tend to go on about my world. Yes, I'm grateful she is in it; but I find myself more consumed with the things I'm interested in, and less so with her interests. However, there are times when I really look into Bonnie's eyes and into her life and really see her as a person who wants to be loved and cherished. There are times when I speak and act on her behalf, worrying about her interests, and finding out about her dreams. Those are the moments when I have felt more alive and useful than with any of my self absorbed pursuits. I find there is nothing greater than love being poured out to another. We strive to get love for ourselves. We make plans and try to achieve love, but we find it falls short of ever satisfying those empty places in our soul. In Treasured Moments, I hope you see yourself in this painting reaching out and giving of who you are for the benefit of the one you love, rather than wishing you had the other one giving you what you long for. This kind of giving of ourselves to another is what Jesus meant when he said, "Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it." Take a chance, believe you will be filled to the fullest when you concern yourself with someone you love and find yourself in yet another Treasured Moment. -- Mark Keathley