Rodin’s figure appears to be looking inward, but as I worked on this drawing I kept returning to Proverbs. Wisdom is never found by turning inward alone. We search, question, and reflect—not to become self-sufficient, but to become humble enough to receive what only God can give.
“If you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures… then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”
— Proverbs 2:4–5
Charcoal, 2021.
Annalise (6yrs): Mommy, I made this for you!
Me: Awww, thank you! It’s a cute cow.
Annalise: It’s you. Keep it by your bed every night.
Me: Oh …. Okay….
Annalise: You see how her back legs are torn and then re-attached?
Me: Yeah, did you accidentally do that? It’s okay! I still like her.
Annalise: No, Mommy. You don’t understand.
Me: No?
Annalise: She’s been wounded. She’ll never walk right. God let that happen to her.
Me: He did?
Annalise: Yes, but not because He doesn’t love her. See? He’s smiling. He has his big, long arms wrapped around her. He helps her keep walking.
Me: Why doesn’t He heal her all the way?
Annalise: Nobody knows for sure. But I have two really good guesses. First, He wants the cow to remember she needs His love to keep going. Every time it hurts, she remembers Him and feels His arms.
Me: That’s a good guess. What’s your second one?
Annalise: He wants her to see her own wound, every day, and then let that help her find others who are wounded. Then she can really see them and help them. Every time it hurts more, she tries to love more.
❤️
8×10″ pen, marker, and watercolor on paper
December 27, 2013
Inspired by the following passage from Plato’s Republic:
“He said: Who then are the true philosophers?
Those, I said, who are lovers of the vision of truth.”
Claire (7yrs): Mom, I watched TV at Memommie’s house today.
Me: <shrug> Not too much, I hope.
Claire: No, but Mom, there are things we REALLY need to buy!!!
Me: <oh no>
Claire: <excited> So, you know the people that make things for your feet?!! Well, now they’re making things for your head, but there are wings on them.
Me: Huh?
Claire: And they flap!
Me: I’m so confused.
Claire (annoyed at my ignorance): Just take me to Target and I’ll find it.
Me: -_-
