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To live and enjoy every day to its fullest, use my gifts to help others, I travel to wherever passion finds me.

What Will She Paint?

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Saturday, May 09, 2009

MY THOUGHTS ON LOVE

Love and mother are almost synonymous to me. Everyone who is alive has a mother. (In most cases) She thought you were important enough to be born!
Research says that without love a baby withers away and eventually dies. That is how important love is. It may not have been your mother, but someone cared and took care of you, so you might live.
With that, I am qualifying, and say that most of us, including myself, love very imperfectly.



Paul, a scholar in Greek and Hebrew viewed that of all things, these three remain, "faith hope and love." In Greek there are three words for love. Here, Paul meant, the kind of love that sticks to you,closer than a brother.
One of the other words for love is "eros", which is sensual, physical attraction and although the media bombards us with it, is seriously overrated.

The second word of love is "fileo", where our word "friend" comes from. In the USA there is a wide range of friends; from an acquaintance to a lifelong close connection.
Paul who wrote a whole chapter on love, also says that I may speak with the tongues of men or angels, but if I have no love, I would sound like a resounding gong, or clanging cymbal. Ouch, I heard that, LOL.


If you would ask, what color is love? I think it would depend on what the situation asks for. If it is a declaration, I would say the color of love is a passionate flaming red. But then, it would be a tender periwinkle (a light blue-gray) if someone needs a gentle little push in the right direction. Or, to someone who would be depressed, I would say, the color of love is a bright sunny blue sky, and would take him or her there, or send a pic of a stunning blue Californian sky.


In February this year I finally finished this painting, because I wanted to post it for Valentine's Day. Since I was not close to a computer that weekend, and Blogger did not automatically post it, as is promised to do on the posted day, you didn't see this until now.


Oil, 24 x 30 St. Germain


My inspiration for this rose came from one of the roses of my yard, which had almost the form of a trapezium, and exaggerated this form in this rose.
For a year I could not find a fitting background. I did not want to make this an erotic or romantic painting.
When I read about Paul's idea about love, my heart leaped. That was the kind of love I wanted to express with this rose. The love that is enduring and able to weather all storms, I embedded the words in a cloud-like background.

With this rose I like to honor someone who has been a mother to me for many years in my adulthood. I got to know her because our back yards were across from each other. She did not have children of her own, but she was a mother to many. Even though she and her hubby were traveling most of the time, she always made time for me. She had a keen sensitivity for what people needed. She taught me to have faith that everything would turn out all right, and she is the reason that I have a positive outlook on life. Thank you for your great gift of motherhood, Mama Barnes.

23 comments:

Heather said...

This is a wonderful post and a beautiful painting! I've heard and felt these words from Paul before, but again...they were needed. You've blessed me today, in the reading of your post.

To mention what color we would use to describe love, made me smile. I asked in one of my posts, once, of what color my friends would describe their faith to be. Mine is yellow, because to me; yellow is JOY. Yellow really brings light into my life. For love, though...WOW...that one is a thinker. And, I do believe that I'd agree with you...it would be different depending upon which form of love we're describing.

I have not the time today to write a post, but I have time to think about this.

What a wonderful blessing to have a neighbor who has enabled your walk :o).

Happy Mother's Day, dear "artsy" friend.

♥ Heather

Unknown said...

Thanks for the gift!

DUTA said...

That's a very, very sweet baby in the picture!!

Unknown said...

What a wonderful tribute to Mother Barnes! And a beautiful painting.

Happy mom's day to you!

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

A lovely tribute Jeannette. Love comes in kinds of shapes and sizes. Who knows where the feeling begins and ends. What IS love? Can we define it? :) Have a fantastic Mothers Day!!

Jeannette StG said...

Heather,
Can tell that this post made you think/contemplate - I am very happy about that.
It's interesting that I don't know what color my faith would be - Now I have to think about that one, LOL
Wishing you a very special day on Mothers Day!

Jeannette StG said...

Joey,
You're welcome, Joey!
In case I forget, because my memory gets shorter by the week, irreversable old age (LOL) you know - For Fathers Day I would want to say to you that I think you are one who is a father figure, at least to the ones in your neighborhood (and maybe you don't even know it:) )

Jeannette StG said...

Duta,
Thank you! she is my fourth grand child. Now she is 3 years old, and is on the right side of the blog in the pink outfit.

Jeannette StG said...

Jane,
Thank you! I am a very lucky person to have had a mamma Barnes in my life.
I really enjoyed your post about Dionna Warwick. Later I thought, wow, that's a very clever way to phrase it that she didn't want to be invited back:)

Jeannette StG said...

Joan,
I wonder if the definition of love would be different for every one, depending on our inner needs?

I am certainly not an expert on this subject. I only do know that it is a great gift to be loved by someone else.

Wishing you a great Mothers Day too, Joan!

gianlucio said...

hello Jeannette , thanks for your nice comments you are a friend ... I continue to follow your wonderful blog.
Ciao Gianlucio

Kilauea Poetry said...

Lovely post Jeannette..the flower is gorgeous too. Ha.."a light blue-gray) if someone needs a gentle little push in the right direction" that was good.
I left a comment on my blog too..hope it helps a little clarification. Have a Blessed Mothers Day and I'm so glad you stopped by-

neetzy said...

What a wonderful and timely post. My children gave me three rose bushes for mother's day. They are three different colors. I will think of your post as they bloom!

ANNA-LYS said...

What a Lovely Rose!!!!!

(( love ))

Jeannette StG said...

Gianlucio,
I am glad you are encouraged - we can't do it without friends! Hope you are painting on something right now?

Jeannette StG said...

Kilauea Poetry,
Thank you, I'll stop by your blog in the coming days too. Your blog is worth the visit!
I quess you'll be doing a lot of periwinkles, huh?:)
Hope you had a special day on Mothers Day!

Jeannette StG said...

Neetzy,
Thank you so much for telling me that - rose bushes is a much more creative gift than roses -now you can enjoy them for years to come! That is awesome - it makes my day!

Jeannette StG said...

Anna-Lyse
Thank you AnnaLys. You signed with love, - which color (LOL) love, Annalys?

Lillie said...

Your painting of the rose is gorgeous and a beautiful post on love.

OLLIE MCKAY'S ~ A Chic Boutique said...

I'm not an artist - wish I could be!! The baby Pic is absolutely precious and the Rose painting is amazing!!!

Jeannette StG said...

Lillie,
Thanks so much, glad you like it. Your blog is always a pleasure visiting!

Jeannette StG said...

Ollie McKay,
Thank you so much! I went to your blog, and I thought the design of your Aloha Friday's is very cute. welcome to visit my blog anytime:)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

I think you are right in saying our definition of love is different. All too often I hear people telling others 'I love you' nowdays but the words are hollow and without meaning. We are supposed to tell this to our children all the time, but wouldn't it be better to show them love instead of uttering this meaningless phrase?