He Leadth Me Beside Still Water

I wrote across the big wall

He Leadth Me Beside Still Water

...that was how I started the painting.

One Sunday afternoon in 1997 my mom ask me if I would paint the wall behind the baptismal in West Decatur Church of Gods new building. It would be 15 feet high and 30 feet wide.
And I said

Yes

...without my usual hesitation. I don't know why I felt sure about doing it when I had NEVER painted anything that large. But there it was...YES. Mom said she would donate the supplies and I said I would donate my time and talent. After I bought my supplies...8 tubes of paint, some brushes, and a car wash sponge (used it the most) we set off for the church. When I arrived I found my Uncle Wayne already set up scaffolding so I could get up high and paint the sky. I am leery of heights..but for some reason I felt safe there.

The first thing I did before I started was ask my mom to go to the alter and pray with me.

I prayed that God would use me,
my mind, my heart, my hand to do this painting.

That His blessings be upon this.

I prayed there would be peace and light coming from this painting.

That was the ritual for every time I painted there. We were usually there on our own...some people stopped by, aunts and uncles, curious workers. But for the most part we were alone in quiet....me praying and painting, Mom reading her book or making helpful comments.
Dad would come by and sit and watch sometimes too. Making sure we were safe. I remember the last night it was after midnight and Dad drove all the way out there to check on us. Mom and I were late because we were admiring and marveling at how it had turned out.

I know God guided my hand.

It only took 6 days...36 hours to paint.

Now whenever I see that painting which has peace and light I remember it all started with the words that are wrote beneath it...

He Leadth Me Beside Still Water.

I love this picture of Mom and Dad watching me paint.

I am so glad Uncle Gene took this photo.