A tribute to my grandmother
Monday is Valentine’s Day. It is the time of year when we think of love. We buy cards and candy to tell those we love what they mean to us. This Sunday’s sermon was called “No Strings Attached” delivered by our minister Larry Kent. He discussed the new movie by the same name that is currently #1 at the box office. It’s premise is a relationship between two “friends with benefits” and their lack of a desire for any meaningful relationship. Rev. Kent further discussed how sometimes it is easier to keep your distance instead of forging a relationship and making a commitment. Sometimes do you find yourself sending an email instead of picking up a phone? I do. Email allows distance instead of making a commitment of time to actually speak to someone. It is convenient. Sometimes we get so busy that we do what is convenient and skip the things that further cement our relationships with others. The same can be true for our relationship with God. Do we have a string attached at all times, or, only when it is convenient?
A long time ago I heard the former president of Miami University speak, Dr. Phil Shriver. He said that when we graduated from Miami there would always be an invisible red string attached to us, holding us forever connected to our alma mater. The red string of fate, also referred to as the red thread of destiny, red thread of fate, and other variants, is an East Asian belief originating from Chinese legend and is also used in Japanese legend. According to this myth, the gods tie an invisible red string around the ankles of men and women who are destined to be soul mates and will one day marry each other.
Valentine’s Day is a day to make a commitment to hold a little tighter to those we love and honor those we love who are no longer with us. With that in mind, I created this painting as a tribute to my grandmother, Nana. She was an amazing woman with great strength and grace. I spent many hours by her side, baking cookies and helping her tend her roses. She was always there for me with her support and unwavering love. One of my most treasured possessions is her teacup collection. In this painting are a couple of her teacups and her silver tea service. If you look closely at the silver tea service you will see photo transfers of my grandmother and some of her friends on the shore of Lake Erie when she was a young woman. Nana’s favorite color was pink. She LOVED pink and she used it wherever she could in her home. (She also wore it long before it was fashionable). I hope this painting pays homage to some of the things she prized. It was created with the kind of love that she nurtured in me.
With the spirit of Valentine’s Day in mind, keep those strings attached!
Susie
What a beautiful painting, but an even more beautiful thought. Nana was a sweet and gentle lady. We both benefitted from having her in our lives.
Your Brother Jim
Thanks, Jim. Glad you like it. I think she would as well.
PS-I have a red string attached to you!