A Beautiful Story

This past week, I went on a hiking trip with some friends. We got into a discussion about our faith, and one of my friends told me about this young child artist and poet, Akiane. She even let me borrow a book about her, and I've not been able to put it down and I've been sharing it with everyone since. Wow, just wow. This little lady was born to a self-consciously atheist family and at age 4 began to have visions and dreams of God, heaven, Mary, and the angels. God inspired this young lady to draw and to paint. He guided her progress from pencil sketches at age 4 to color paintings and poetry beginning at about age 7. She is now 13. Each painting has a poem to go with it and in her book, she describes each painting.

I have several favorites, but one of them is called "Resurrection: Prince of Peace." It is a painting of the risen Christ found here. She says that she painted half His face in light to show the glory of His Resurrection and half of it dark to show His suffering on earth. What's even more beautiful is the story of the model for this painting. Akiane had been inspired to paint God's face, but needed the perfect model. She prayed and prayed and finally a family friend brought over to the family house a man -- this man--who is a carpenter. Akiane knew he was the model. I fell in love with painting instantly.

Her portrayal of Mary is also so beautiful. She explains that Mary's role was so unique: she had to protect and raise the Savior. And I love the one of this African American woman and her child (seen above and found on the site here. Her caption to this painting?? She says: "So many children have been lost through war, famine, slavery, kidnapping, crime, disease, accidents, suicide, miscarriage or abortion. When a child is gone, the only joy left is the memories and faith that we will see them again, and we will."

Wow, just wow. "Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast brought perfect praise...."