THE "GIRLS" ..... my zinnias

12x16, done using Jane DesRosier's (Gritty Jane) texture idea of paper squares...then painting on top. First coats and beginning drawing... A simple journal page....got Zinnias on the brain! Some photos of the humblest of zinnias.... ..... they are so beautiful, strong and complex in their design. Almost architectural and perfect. There are so many different kinds, shapes and colors of the same thing. They thrive on the sun to become so beautiful and pleasing to look at. After a while, their color fades and their energy is refocused. They appear to suffer and struggle when finally they dry up and their once beautiful, now dead petals blow away. All that is left is the core, or their soul so to speak....that place where the petals held on to for so long. Then the core or soul or seed head dies and breaks open.... releasing all the seeds of new life she was nurturing and forming all along. All along her purpose was to bloom, die and then release new hope for the future. Her cycle continues for an eternity... her purpose for living never ended. As the dried core blows away and the seeds spread all around on the ground, the rain comes and it sprouts new life in a tiny delicate green sprouts that amazingly being touched by the sun grows into a a strong, mighty and beautiful creation to behold. She has given her soul or seed head to begin maybe a hundred new beauties! Her purpose for living is never in vain.... especially when touched by the warmth of the sun and fed by the rain.....Go Girls, Go!! Two people I know went home to be with the Lord this past week. One was a loved younger Mother and Grandmother and the other was an older Grandfather and Father, also very loved. They both "suffered well" with great grace.... as was quoted by a family member. Both left many, many seeds behind, many seeds that were touched by the "Son" that had nutured their own growth and their own unique beauty they each beheld while they were here ... each one different but uniquely beautiful and so pleasing to behold. See you later "Cici" and "Ted"..... see you there. I can't help but wonder knowing we too will someday go home to our Father, if I will be able to "suffer well"? I don't know and so I continue to try and learn and fill myself with the Son and His Mercy and Grace. Also, now when I gather up and "hold on" to all those dead looking seed heads, I will still know and appreciate more all the beauties and possibilities I hold in my hands. But I will "let them go" so they can spread and the new sprouts can come. I have LOVED this flower since early childhood when we planted our own first little flower garden beside the garage wall by the back gate in hot North Texas as children. What grew from those first seeds has stuck with me all my years and through today as I take these photos of yesterday's dried seed heads. My daughter reminded of these references in Scripture as well....I Peter 1:23-25, Isaiah 40:6-8, James 1:10-12, Matthew 13:31-33, Mark 4:7,8.......Blessings to you! An additional note....I would like to link you to the Obituary/ Blog of Ted and Jo Stone, who we had the priviledge of knowing through dear friends....they also counseled us in our marriage and were encouragers in Christ and just someone you could always go to in honesty and never be criticized, but nurtured and loved through whatever you were going through. Ted went home to be with the Lord as mentioned above, but Jo is still here and will continue in her awesome God Given ministries to people! If you ever visit with me I will walk you through the awesome way she walked me prayerfully through releasing things from my childhood that has had a deep hold on me for years....I will never forget it and how my focus went to the One (who I already knew) but who delivers, Saves, Loves and never forsakes!