Grace

Forgiveness allows us to claim our own power and not let
these events destroy us; it enables them to become events
that deepen the wisdom of our hearts. Forgiveness indeed
heals memories.
~Henri Nouwen

This painting is for the Thursday Sweet Treatchallenge. The challenge was to create a representation of a gift to ourselves. I did something a little different.. a representation of the gift of self-forgiveness.

I think forgiving ourselves for our flaws, our mistakes, our incompleteness is actually harder than forgiving other people. It forces us to go through the self embarassment of admitting parts of ourselves do not add up to the person we want to be.

One of the primary tenet that I am drawn to in the Christian tradition is Grace. We admit that we will always be flawed. We will always be imperfect. That through Jesus' death on the cross our sins are forgiven, that all those wounds we create are healed.

Whatever your faith background, I think this can be translated to an understanding that we can move forward from our mistakes, that as the world moves on, so can we. But the key is to really willing to look at our imperfections. For I believe, that if we do not, the guilt of them stays hidden in our soul and affects our current actions.

Today I will spend a moment, in reflection, and release my wrongs, so I may move forward.



This miniature painting is available for purchase from the Sacred Arts Studio on Etsy for $45.