The Screen Door

 

[caption id="attachment_2010" align="alignleft" width="300"] The Red Barn[/caption]

I am so glad you stopped by! I love this painting. This was a commission I did for a girl in Franklin, TN. The only request was a specific size and a red barn.  I painted the whole thing with a palette knife. When I was done I was head over heels in love. I loved the painting, but I mostly loved the way it made me feel. I am an outside kind of girl and this painting says "outside" in a yummy way!

My family loves the outdoors. Sixteen years ago when we built our house, we put a big screen porch on the back. We love it. We have a million memories on that porch from birthday parties to prom dinners. My most favorite thing about the porch is cooking on the grill almost every saturday night out there. It is like a date night every saturday. However, the other day, I was working in my husband's shop in the back yard, and as I was walking back toward the house I noticed how old and worn the porch looked. I stopped and made a mental list of everything that I thought needed to be done to update it. I had a pretty good list going, from pressure washing to sanding to staining and then my eyes rested on the screen door. My heart flooded with sweet memories of my children running in and out of that door for sixteen years. I laughed thinking about the hundreds of times I must have said "Don't slam the screen door!" Honestly, if you wanted the door to close all the way now, you would have to lift it with both hands and pull it with all your might. The hinges are rusted and the springs no longer spring. We actually use the door as the last hole in our frisbee golf course! If and when that door gets left open, we inevitably encounter stray cats, lost birds, mosquitos and sometimes snakes. Not good!!!!

I can't help but draw a comparison between the screen door and the human heart. My screen door started out strong. The door was once like a strong soldier standing tall and brave against stray creatures and fierce weather. Now because the door was not taken care of, it looks more like a withered old man with a sweet smile and weak eyes unable to fight off even the smallest mosquito. When a heart goes unattended it too will grow weak. However, a heart filled with Jesus has the strength of ten thousand. With Jesus in your heart, He is able to help you be strong and stand firm against all manner of evil. If you are tired and weary, Jesus wants to rescue you! He stands ready to save. Call out to Him today. Give Him your whole heart. Don't leave that screen door unattended.

Ephesians 6:10-11 Finally, be strong int he Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

love love love Ruthie