My husband recently went on a work trip, and that stirred up some anxiety in me. We haven’t been apart for more than a few hours since we married. I thought about how difficult the separation would be, and sadly, I wasted so much time anticipating how it would feel when he left. I dropped him off at the airport, kissed him goodbye, and then I cried for most of the way home. Those tears were really not so different from the peaceful waters of the deep sea we would be traveling to as soon as he returned or even the rain that could’ve ruined everything if we had let it.

When I arrived back home that sad day, I went to spend some time outside on the porch. It’s been difficult for my cat to enjoy our porch time unless the door is partially opened. Unfortunately, with bugs and the heat of the summer, Sassy has had to make some adjustments. In the beginning, there was a lot of resistance, but eventually she became more comfortable with the closed door. As I sat on my porch that day, I became frustrated that Sassy wouldn’t just relax and trust that I would open the door for her when she wanted back inside. That’s when I realized—I too had some adjustments to make. I, like Sassy, would have to let go. I would have to let God take something away and trust that He would provide. I watched a restless Sassy walk back and forth from her resting spot under my chair to the closed door. I wondered, is this what God feels when He looks at me? Frustrated that His beloved child won’t just rest and enjoy the moment, rest in Him? Sassy finally curled up beneath my seat and began to listen to the crickets and birds. “This. This is what I want for my baby.” I thought to myself. So Sassy and I sat in that moment together, and like the submissive, moldable, fearless water, we found peace.

I sat in the passenger seat and watched the waves steadily make their way to the shoreline as Daniel and I made it to Navarre Beach. They rolled in like clockwork, not forced or rushed but rather quietly guided by the hand of God. Water has a way of simply going where it’s led. I couldn’t wait to find the perfect spot near the water and create our own depiction of what we saw. Upon arrival, however, we noticed some pretty dark clouds forming right over us, and I could tell Daniel was trying to hold back his disappointment. We saw the wind blowing like crazy and slowly began to realize we weren’t going to be able to paint on the beach. By the time we had started to look for a parking space, I could no longer hold back my frustration and disappointment. I’ll never forget Daniel’s response.

“We’ll just paint in the car.” He said with a smile on his face. Then he parked the car facing the sand and water. He began to pour out optimism in that moment as if it were cold water on a scorching hot day. Those moments would go on to become a core memory, a reminder of why I married my husband.

“The Gift of Water” is inspired by the sweet surrender of fallen tears and the quiet submission of the deep sea. This artwork was birthed in the midst of rain, a gentle reminder—a God wink if you will— to let go and embrace the moment.

Ironically enough, the sun started drifting in and out of the clouds as we finished our painting, and the rain never even picked up beyond a light mist. We were able to go experience the beach, hunt for seashells, and even ride the waves together.

The frame was crafted to represent the glistening, sun-kissed sand. It was customized with a layer of champagne colored spray paint and topped off with a gold glitter overlay. We spray painted our favorite shells from that day, and glued them to the frame.

Of course we chose to keep our original, but this little 6×6 inch acrylic painting as well as the frame will be made to order in my Etsy Shoppe.

kamillestreasures.etsy.com

Water is timeless;

to the moment it submits.

Water is moldable;

it flows where it fits.

.

Water has faith;

in God it will trust.

If the Lord says to go,

then go it must.

.

Water is honest,

as pure as it appears.

When water grieves,

it’s moved into tears.

.

The one true God

water will obey.

If God says be still,

water will stay.

.

And just like the waves

that keep kissing the shore,

water returns to God’s love

forevermore.