Like Mother, Like Daughter

Posted on by beautybeyondbones

Have you ever been just drawn to something?

And I’m not talking the bakery case at the grocery store. Or the shoe department at Nordstrom.

giphy-2

I’m talking, a soul pull. A spirit attraction.

Ever since I’ve been home during my mom’s stroke recovery, I’ve discovered a little place in our house that I keep finding myself sitting in. Just ending up there.

It’s a little sitting area in front of the fire place, and focal point of this nook is a beautiful painting of Jesus. It’s called the image of the Divine Mercy. Perhaps you’ve heard of it.


But I’ll often find myself sitting, just looking into the eyes of Jesus in this painting.

Now, to be honest, I’ve never really considered myself a “religious art person.” I mean, I think it’s beautiful and great for, say, a church, but I don’t know. I’ve just never really given it much contemplation.

Until, of course, now.

And I was sitting in my little chair, looking at the painting, letting Jesus’ face make an impression on me, when my mom came in and sat next to me.

“You know the story behind this painting, right?” 

And, truthfully, I didn’t. I know we got it a long time ago, but I just figured my mom’s bible study class gifted it to her as an end-of-year teacher gift.

“I got this when you were going through your anorexia.”

Chills.


I looked back up at the image, and I swear, Jesus’ eyes were looking at me even deeper. Piercing me even more knowingly.

My eating disorder took a toll on my family. It pushed everyone involved to their breaking point. Tested their faith. Shook their foundation.

And during those tumultuous years, my mom spent a lot of time over at church at the adoration chapel praying for me.

She felt out of control. She was watching her little girl waste away and there was nothing she could do. She felt her hands were tied.

And so one day she went and talked to our beloved family friend/priest. And he told her to go get an image of the Divine Mercy.

And so my mom went to our local Christian shop, and wouldn’t you know, as she was pulling up, the owner was unloading a large, beautiful canvas painting of the Divine Mercy. She said, “I’ll take it,” before they even got it in the door.


But my mom told me about how this image got her through a lot of really challenging days when I was sick. She would pray, looking at the comforting face of Jesus.

She was scared, out of ideas, out of hope. And the thing about the Divine Mercy is that at the bottom, is the phrase, “Jesus I trust in You.”

That’s what the Divine Mercy is all about: Trusting in Jesus’ goodness and mercy when all seems lost. When life is scary and your soul is going through a period of unrest.

Jesus I trust in You.

That was the phrase that got my mom through her terrifying season when my anorexia was raging.

And now, when the tables are turned, this phrase has been my source of comfort and peace when I’m scared, and searching for hope and courage.

Jesus I trust in You.

He never promised us an easy life. But He did promise us that He’d always be with us, to give us comfort and strength.


I should have known that there was significance to this image, in how my heart and spirit were being drawn to it.

Leave it to Jesus to show up in the most meaningful of ways.

I guess, it’s as they say: Like mother, like daughter.


What are you drawn to? What brings your soul peace? Is there a certain song, or a verse?

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beautybeyondbones

BBB: Because we're all recovering from something. // For speaking/business inquiries: beautybeyondbones@yahoo.com

374 thoughts on “Like Mother, Like Daughter”

  1. The Divine Mercy is one of he most moving images we have of our Lord! There are so many hymns that bring me comfort, but the Magnificat tops the list. Just the first line is one that I sing to myself often in hard times. “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in my Savior for he looks with kindness on my lowliness and all ages will call me blessed.”

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Your mom is an inspiration, just like you. When tired of the battles, I am drawn to nature. Growing up on a farm in rural SW Michigan, being outside in a field or a hike or a wood alone brings me back to purity and the presence of God faster than anything. And when I can’t, I get alone in the dark with my piano and play for Jesus, maybe write Him a song. That brings me back to remove distractions and remember hope. The painting you shared is beautiful and I am inspired to find one despite my (like yours) hesitation shall we say in getting religious art. But that painting means much more now. You are good at bringing out the more meaning of a thing or situation. That is another of our gifts. 🙂 ❤ Hugs!

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Oh my gosh Tonya, thank you so much. I agree- my mom definitely inspires me every day. And yes! Nature and music really speak to me as well. Yes! I hope you do get yourself an image:) it really brings a lot of comfort and hope. Thanks for stopping by. Hugs and love xox

      Liked by 3 people

  4. All day today as I am drained yet find healing in my own writing, I have this God gave me; Be Still and Know that I am God. I have purpose for everything under heaven. Nothing is by chance. It is the Mystery of God’s Will. Sometimes revealed immediately sometimes not for years. For we strive to live a life after God’s own heart. So people see Him in us. I am a recovering alcoholic. Almost 4 years of chains broken. My kids suffered greatly at my selfish demise. God still had a plan so greatly purposed in all of it. Be still and know that I am God! All day today! Thanks for sharing your heart ❤🙏☝

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you I have quite the story. Grew up in church, and I knew God. Just was very wounded in my marriage, and instead of turning to God I turned to alcohol. I married into a large church family. A P.K I had known since the fourth grade. Married at 20. Never hold a man higher in regard to God. He was my everything and he could no wrong in my eyes. I might as well have been that Omish wife who submitted to his every saying (not knocking that) just saying. I did not have a mind of my own. So when he fell as humans do my life came out from under me. Instead of being strong, I fell too. Their was no salvage of us. We are not even friends to this day. 18 years of marriage. As much as his failings wounded me greatly I get it. We are human. We are not in our heavenly realm yet. We are constantly battling the world. He just has stayed there. I pray for him all the time. I am remarried, because biblically I was released from our marriage. God has given me a new breath of life. As well as I knew him before it is ten fold now. We serve a mighty God. My favorite is grace because I bask in it daily. He saved a wretch like me. Anyways I could go on and on. That is why I write. Blessings, and keep on keeping on for He knows us and always has best at heart even when we can’t see it.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Oh gosh thank you so much for sharing this with me. I am so sorry that you’ve had to walk that journey. But you’re so right – a mighty God indeed. So glad you’re basking in His grace. Hugs and love xox

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Wow. You are an amazing artist with this new form of communicating through words, pictures, film, and animation. I think you realize that you are blessed beyond bones. You are beautiful, talented and have found a spiritual depth and maturity that only those who suffer can reach. Because of this your physical beauty is complemented and superseded by your spiritual beauty. That particular glow you give off in your photographs is not a trick of lighting. It is the inner shine of the Holy Spirit emanating from you. That beauty will be eternal while your physical beauty will last but a moment.

    You are a 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 woman:

    3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.

    You are so right we are all recovering from something. Your sharing your recovery journey is comforting to many. Recovery is a never ending journey. It is like sanctification. We strive for perfection but never achieve it; yet, in our striving we are made new.

    I hope that you have thanked God for your suffering. It has made you more Christ like. Like grape vines, we must be pruned. Pruning is painful to the vine but it makes the vine more fruitful. Through your pruning you have become abundantly fruitful.

    A Scottish Theologian from the 1800’s by the name of George Matheson wrote a popular hymn called ‘O Love That Will Not Let Me Go’. This hymn was written during a time in his life when intense sadness and heartbreak threatened to overwhelm him:

    “My God, I have never thanked Thee for my thorn.
    I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses. But never once for my thorn.
    Teach me the glory of my cross, Teach me the value of my thorn.
    Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of my pain.
    Show me that my tears have made rainbows. Amen.”

    You are making rainbows for your readers.

    May you continue to grow in your faith and may your thorns be mainly behind you.

    God bless.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Gosh this is such an incredibly kind note. Thank you so much. I seriously have no words to say how much this touched my heart. I love those verses and hymn. Thank you for sharing them with me. I hope you have a beautiful evening. Hugs and love xox

      Liked by 2 people

  7. Reblogged this on Church Set Free and commented:
    “Because we’re all recovering from something.”

    I have reblogged posts by Beauty Beyond Bones, BBB, before.

    Here is why:

    And I was sitting in my little chair, looking at the painting, letting Jesus’ face make an impression on me, when my mom came in and sat next to me.

    “You know the story behind this painting, right?”

    And, truthfully, I didn’t. I know we got it a long time ago, but I just figured my mom’s bible study class gifted it to her as an end-of-year teacher gift.

    (Comments are disabled here as usual. Thank you.)

    Like

  9. I love reading all your posts! My favourite scripture that brings me peace is from Proverbs 3:5&6 which says… ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart do not depend on your own understanding in all your way acknowledge him and he will make your path straight’. Many Blessings, Grace. Xx

    Liked by 1 person

  10. So BBB, this is what I read yesterday: For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. from 2 Corinthians chapter 4. This passage is speaking so powerfully to me right now, In fact there is more and it’s even better! But how apt that our bodies are weak and fragile like clay jars holding great treasure. This piece of scripture sums up your whole post – I stand amazed!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Ha ha, the cat… and the picture – wow…
    What brings my soul peace? Clear thought, about time, people and place (as a theologian). And some action… doing
    …and music has been a part of that 🙂

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    1. Haha thanks David. Yeah I thought the cat was pretty great. Those are all great things! And I love music too! It really hits me on a soul level. Thanks for stopping by! Hugs and love xox

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  12. I love when we start to see out of our mothers’ eyes… I feel like some of our own pieces start to fall into place. What a gift ❤️

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  13. Thank you, Caralyn, for sharing this story, which, for me, yes, is about trusting Jesus, but, too, about your mother’s faith and hope and love…and yours.

    As for what brings my soul peace, among many things – songs, Bible verses, and the like – there is one, perhaps odd, remembrance and reflection to which I return again and again. That is, Jesus’ fulfillment of his destiny; one that involved his crucifixion and death. I find present and eternal comfort in this, for, as I seek to follow him, I am given to acknowledge and accept that my peace may not mean – and oft doesn’t mean – an absence of conflict or trial or tribulation, but rather always entails an inner tranquility that come what may, when, where, and how, my soul is held fast and secure in the Lord. Do I struggle to hold on to that idea, that belief, that reality at times. Yes, of course. Nevertheless, the comfort it provides, I have found, abides.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much Paul. I really appreciate this thoughtful reply. Wow what a powerful thought: the fulfillment of Jesus’ destiny – it’s hard to even fathom he anguish and pain He endured, and then to remember that He chose to take it on for you and me…just wow. Thanks for your kind words. Hugs and love xox

      Liked by 1 person

  14. No, I’m not crying…YOU’RE CRYING! **wipes eyes** As a mother, this blog just tugged at my heart. Beautifully written.

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  15. When I was little I was drawn to this room in my grandparents’ house. I learned later it held a “shrine” to Christ. Long story short, my great grandmother made a promise to God to build a “shrine” to him (And this thing was huge) and worship at it everyday if she allowed her child (my grandfather) to live. He obviously lived and this shrine was a massive collection. As a baby I was fascinated by one particular piece: The Infant of Prague. I had a fascination with his hands most of my life, trying to draw saints with the right hand. “The left hand encircles a miniature globe, surmounted by a cross, signifying the world-wide kingship of the Christ Child. The right hand is extended in blessing with the first two fingers being upraised to symbolize the two natures of Christ, while the folded thumb and last two fingers touch each other representing the unity of the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit in the mystery of the Blessed Trinity.” I haven’t thought about this much until now. BTW that side of the family was very Siciilian, which is why I think the shrine came in to being. It must be a Sicilian/Italian thing.

    As for a song, my newer blog is named after “Til the Love Runs Out” by One Republic. It has many feelings about it. Someone close to me used it has his anthem while going through chemo. It symbolizes the love for God and accepting His Plan. Also to keep fighting “til the love runs out” or His love is gone- which is obviously never. I decided to use it as one of my anthems too and have it tattooed where his scar for the chemo port goes. It’s inspiring.

    Sorry for the long response, but this post hit home. Thanks for your awesome blog! *hugs*

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh wow what a powerful story. Thank you for sharing that with me. I’m definitely going to good the infant of Prague when I finish this comment!! Sounds really intriguing and beautiful. Gosh, what a powerful witness you have. Hugs and love xox

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Mary! Yeah, I’m finding that I’m telling myself that more and more often! I trust in Him, not my own limited understanding. Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you have a beautiful weekend! Hugs and love xox

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  19. I too discovered a picture of Jesus ( or at the perfect time the picture found me). I looked deeply into Jesus’s eyes of compassion, ignoring hostile, indifferent, curious and uncaring eyes and expressions of those standing around him. I was drawn to looking into those eyes of love,which spoke to me more than words could and got through to me during dark days when I felt useless and hopeless. Despite what others thought I knew I was loved.
    Julia x

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  20. Dear author of BBB,
    Thanks for this post and for finding time to stop by at Wise and Harmless Poetry blog.

    After reading this post I think it is a good reminder, particularly to Christian people that God more than just exists, He loves us! =)))

    Liked by 1 person

  24. This weekend is state track. Considering that I used to coach, although my athlete loathes me now for abandoning him, it will be a great weekend.

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      1. Sucks getting old. More fun to run. I think I’d rather run than watch. Oops. Is that selfish of me?

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      3. I don’t mind the shrieks from the girls as I run. That doesn’t hurt at all. Is that selfish? I hope not. I guess the ones like me is rare, we get noticed. The flashy ones that sing and sign everywhere we go, spreading eagle wings when I outgain a cop car from start to finish through an intersection. Ooh, that feels good. His poor ego and governor on his engine. He he. I love racing cars and WINNING! It’s a hobby, I guess. The longer the better. They think their muscle is bigger than my legs, but pretty soon they just saunter off while I listen to the young girls shriek. I guess they don’t see that every day. Eagle wings on a stealth bomber that may or may not touch the ground as it flies.

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  25. I could cry if it wasn’t because I’m currently at work… This is something I just talked about my blog today as well. God has definitely never left your family’s side and this you’re a testament of that! What a strong and beautiful girl you are, keep on going!!! Can’t wait to read all your blog posts! 🙂

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  26. First off, sending nothing but positive thoughts and prayers your way and wishing your mom a speedy recovery. This really hits close to home for me. When my father was in ICU for half the year, I put my faith in God and trusted that he had a plan for my father. It was the hardest thing that I ever had to endure in my entire life; my faith was tested day in and day out. But throughout it all, I never wavered and my dad is on the road to recovery. You truly are a strong person for sharing this, thank you so much!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi Mark, thank you so much for your kind words and prayers for my mom. I’m so sorry that you can relate so personally and I’m so glad to hear that your dad is doing well. I will definitely keep him and you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. Hugs and love xox

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  27. I did a cross stitch picture of a little child on Jesus’ lap. It is very complex and took me about six months. It hangs next to our bed and always brings me comfort.

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  28. “Make me listen to you in the morning, of your loyal and perennial love, for in you I have placed all my trust in you! Tell me the way to go, for I lift up my soul.” Psalm 143:8

    I love the sparkle of your eyes Caralyn !!!

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    2. “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.” Psalm 143:8
      King James Bible

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  31. I am drawn to likeminded and honest people. You know the people that say exactly what is on their minds and force people to take it or leave it. There is something great about someone that is transparent that gives me hope.
    “Love is my only addiction” that quote fuels my faith never in the best moments but in the worst of moments. It allows me to keep my eye on the destination.

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  32. Taking care of my Mama her last few weeks here @ home with hospice checking in, I spent the nites at her side. Praying the rosary, especially the Sorrowful & Glorious mysteries – asking for the ‘grace of a happy death’ for my Mama – comforted my heart. Those middle of the nite prayers were answered. As my Mama took her last few breaths, all five of us (my siblings & I) gathered round her bed singing Amazing Grace. She had such a look of peace… and I know one day we’ll see her again!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi Virginia, thank you so much for sharing this. gosh I’m so sorry for the loss of your mother. gosh, my heart just goes out to you, and my thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. what a beautiful last moment your mother had with her family. that was such a gift you gave her. yes, therein lies the comfort: that we will all be reunited again one day. sending so so so much love xox

      Liked by 1 person

  33. Beautiful post. I admire your willingness to be vulnerable about your own emotions. It’s not that easy on the internet where any stranger can criticize or demean your experience. I also appreciate the imagery you use. Spot on!

    I myself haven’t done religious art in a while. But, you may have just inspired me!

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  34. Another piece of the puzzle is revealed. I love you friend!!! Jesus is the source of all our strength… God bless.You can officially move past the moniker of BBB. It should be changed to beyond beautiful because of the blood of Christ…

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    1. oh my gosh, Anthony, thank you so much!!! amen amen amen – He is the source of all our strength and hope and courage and healing and love and peace and…. need I say more ? 🙂 hehe hugs xo

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  35. Your story touched my heart! You and your mother experienced grace!
    I have several versus that will come to me. Today the verse that touches me especially now with so much unknown is Philippians 4:6 “don’t worry about anything, Instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. I hope this blesses you! prayers for your Mothers continued recovery.

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  36. So much message and power in that…..
    The hymn “Amazing grace” does it for me… And we recently taught the pupils in the elementary school where I teach. Not in a religious type of way though but we hope that as they grow older and walk down the path of life, they will remember the words in the hymn and pray it gets them through trying times and challenges which they are bound to face because it is life.

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  37. Caralyn,

    I’m drawn to a host of things too long to mention here, but a few of those are greenness, forests, the sea, mountains and skies because I always see God’s face in natural beauty, stories and poetry because they somehow embody God’s amazing way of speaking, biochemistry and ecosystems because they reflect the painstaking intricacy of God’s work, close friends I can trust and who have a story to share because they’re God’s gift to me, my wife and daughter because they’re the better parts of me and give me hope, smells of baking because I’ve always loved home and hearth, Celtic music because it draws me close to the Shepherd I love, I can go on and on. And you can continue to add 2 and 2…

    I love the verses ‘The Lord is my strength and my song’, ‘He prepares a banquet for me in the very presence of my enemies; He anoints my head with oil and my cup overflows’, ‘Your name is like perfume poured out’, ‘Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on yourself and learn from me because I’m gentle and humble in heart’, and many more that God has spoken over my life, that continue to give me hope.

    I’ve been reflecting a lot on preciousness and all my current posts are on this theme. I’ve recommended people visit your blog in my latest post because of the way your blog fits so perfectly into today’s post’s theme. I trust you’re fine with that.

    You post reminded me of the start of the Moravian mission with Count Zinzendorf’s encounter with a painting of Jesus called ‘Behold the Man’ and his drastic change after that. Art is quite wonderful, isn’t it?

    Love and blessings to your family and to you,
    Indi

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    1. Hi Indi, wow, thank you for this beautiful reflection. i so agree, being in nature and experience the majesty of His creation really makes you feel close to the Father. And i love those verses. thank you for sharing therewith me. i especially like the one about being weary and burdened. And thanks for passing on my site to your readers. that really means a lot. what an awesome theme you’re writing about. very powerful. hope you have a beautiful weekend. big hugs xo

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  38. Hi, I followed your posts on and off. Happy for your recovery and moving on in your life! God bless you and your family….

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  40. Just know that painting is really not Jesus or really represented of Him. No where in the Bible does it say to make any likeness of Jesus. The Bible doesn’t even us enough physical details to make a rendering of Jesus.

    Moreover in Deuteronomy 4:15-19

    15 Keep therefore your souls carefully. You saw not any similitude in the day that the Lord God spoke to you in Horeb from the midst of the fire: 16 Lest perhaps being deceived you might make you a graven similitude, or image of male or female, 17 The similitude of any beasts, that are upon the earth, or of birds, that fly under heaven, 18 Or of creeping things, that move on the earth, or of fishes, that abide in the waters under the earth: 19 Lest perhaps lifting up thy eyes to heaven, thou see the sun and the moon, and all the stars of heaven, and being deceived by error thou adore and serve them, which the Lord thy God created for the service of all the nations, that are under heaven. (Douay-Rheims)

    Notice that He also said no image of any male or female.

    In Isaiah 44:9:

    9 Those who make an image, all of them are useless,
    And their precious things shall not profit;
    They are their own witnesses;
    They neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed.

    I believe spirits are behind idols and that is perhaps why you felt a pull to be near

    God bless.

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  43. I”m not a religious art person either; I’m glad that one struck you!
    My go to used to be Jer 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope” Then one day the minister talked about how that verse was a promise only to the Jews at that time in that circumstance. Needless to say that bummed me out totally….and I’m not sure I agree with him because of what that would say about a LOT of scripture :/ Now I tend to go to a portion of the long form of the serenity prayer…”Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time..”

    Stay good sister xo

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  45. Im new to wordpress and being a bit selective about who I follow. I’ve only read one post of yours but loved it. A read with some real depth of heart. Look forward to reading more.

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  46. I have so much things I would like to share that brings me comfort so I hope you do not mind my many words. I will share three things.

    My first is a text:
    Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. When I realise that nothing else is required of me in this life except to fear God and to keep His commandments this brings me such peace in a world that demands so much of you. When the world becomes demanding and overwhelming I can focus on this text and realise that my saviour ask nothing more than I fear Him and keep His commandments.

    My second is another text:

    Matthew 6:19-21

    19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

    20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

    21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
    The lie that the world tries to sell us that we need to get and get and keep getting to secure for our future and work until you drop and rat race against your fellowmen just to ensure that you do not come to want or become destitute can push one into depression if they do not know the real truth that God calls all that men see as achieving and moving forward nothing but laying up treasure here on earth, where everything is temporary. This makes me want to work more towards the kingdom of God, to lay up for myself treasures in heaven where everything is permanent. This gives me joy and lift any anxiety this world places on me. It helps me to trust my future more fully in the hands of God and not in the hands of my own achieving.

    My third is a poem I found called “The fellowship of the Unashamed .” I don’t know who the author is but it is absolutely powerful. Focuses me back to what is really important in our short sojourn here on Earth.

    The Fellowship of the Unashamed

    I am part of the “Fellowship of the Unashamed.”

    The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line.

    The decision has been made. I am a disciple of

    Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down,

    back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present

    makes sense, and my future is secure.

    I am finished and done with low living, sight walking,

    small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams,

    chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.

    I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position,

    promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I now live by

    presence, lean by faith, love by patience,

    lift by prayer, and labor by power. My pace

    is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my

    road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few,

    my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought,

    compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back,

    diluted, or delayed.

    I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the

    presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy,

    ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander

    in the maze of mediocrity.

    I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until

    Heaven returns, give until I drop, preach until all know,

    and work until He comes. And when He comes to get

    His own, He will have no problem recognizing me.

    My colors will be clear.

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  49. Having been reared in a Baptist tradition, I found the visual imagery of our church to be somewhere between empty (the church was a modern style by 1970’s fashion, looking like an auditorium) and harsh (a full-emersion baptismal pool and cross int he center of the stage, two symbols of death). I find much more connection in the Catholic tradition of images of Christian stories and themes represents in sculpture, paintings, stained glass windows, etc…. as you can probably tell from some of my long-winded posts about Roman church images. Furthermore, having seen Christian art in many places that we have traveled & lived, this art can be transformed to reflect the people for whom it is made. Then, there was the 8×10 nigh-light of the German Jesus that hung in our hallway looking into my room. I don’t know… that was rather creepy, that light brown haired guy whit blue eyes staring at me all the time. Must have been that Baptist thing about keepinng track of your sins, for surely that is what you must be up to. 👁
    Oscar

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  50. I love your blog! I had an ED for five years and I saw the toll that it took on my mother. My brother gave her a hard time too, but she said that she’d rather deal with his issues a thousand times then watch me go through that again. It’s such a mentally debilitating sickness. I’m glad that you’re doing better!

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    1. Oh my gosh thank you so much!! I’m so sorry that we have that in our pasts that connect us, but I’m so glad that we’re both living in freedom! Thanks for sharing your story! Hugs and love xox

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      1. I just like to think that I wouldn’t be who I am today without it! It sort of humbled me in a very strange way. Congratulations on being healthy and confident!

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