A kind gentleman approached one of our galleries last January and wanted to speak with me about painting a scene from his home town - Salzburg Austria. He had moved here to the USA with his family as a child, but still remembered a few details of living in Europe. On an important anniversary with his wife, they journeyed back to Austria to explore and reminisce over the days of his youth, and found themselves in conversation and memories that bonded them together in deeper ways than they expected. He told me it was such a memorable experience and one that he would never forget, how they took long leisurely strolls up and down the Salt River where it flowed past cathedrals, and centuries old architecture, and wanted a painting or two that would immortalize that experience.
It is important to take time with those you love to just be together, not accomplishing anything important, other than awareness of who that person you are with really is. What made them who they are? How did they come to this place in their personhood? What messages did they receive as children that shaped them negatively? Then, most importantly begin to form the opposite positive message for their soul. If you never hear their stories, you will not know what they need to hear that could be a balm of healing, or bring them peace over a troubled memory. “A Stroll by the River” turned out to be one of my favorite works, partly due to the desire it stirred in me to do the same - walk with the ones I love and simply listen and ask curious questions of their family life and childhood. Gathering these stories and memories will aid you in putting together the perfect bouquet of healing in a powerful word like “You are so important” or “valuable to me.” “I thank God he brought you into my life!” The Lord wants to speak to the soul of everyone, and we often have a hard time hearing because the negativity of the past screams so loud in our heart. Sometimes we need someone else to listen on our behalf. So, go ahead, take that stroll by the river and listen.