Persevering Through Pain

I teach an art class at a local nursing home. I have done this for years, and find great satisfaction in helping senior citizens, who are often failing in many areas, draw recognizable pictures for the first time in their life. It must prove something that my spirit and soul needs to know is true. At this stage in my life, I am a little too busy most of the time with my pro-life work, and it would be nice to cut something out of my schedule. But I won’t cut my art class.

This picture above is being drawn by one of my favorite regular students. As you can see, her hand is contorted and she has difficulty holding the pencil. She is nearly blind with watery eyes that strain to see what she is drawing. She never fails to say, “I am no artist.”  She sometimes pauses to rub her eyes, or massage her fingers, but then she picks up her pencil, and soldiers on. She never stops smiling and always thanks me when class ends.

The activity director (who is WONDERFUL) frames the residents’ work each month and uses it in decorations around the home. She could buy more beautifully rendered prints to decorate the home with, for sure. Yet she is framing something MUCH more valuable. She is framing a spirit of adventure and exploration of new horizons in a life that is setting with the sun; a body that is hanging the “Do Not Disturb” sign but pauses and removes it for one more visitor; fingers that are gnarled and twisted and don’t work the way they used to but as long as they work at all, they are willing to be called into service. She is framing a spirit of endurance and perseverance, who is engaging the struggle, overcoming obstacles or learning to weave around them as best one can. She is showcasing the spirit of life, though it be just a flickering candle.

I know it just looks like an old person drawing a shaky pumpkin, but I see something much greater than that.

Psalm 71:18 

So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.

2 Corinthians 4:16 

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

Psalm 71:9   

Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.

Isaiah 40:31 

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.