The Work of Human Hands

Please give a warm welcome to my friend and fellow blogger, Irene Marie Cortez who has graciously written a guest post for Meditations of My Heart.  I was truly touched by her sketch of me which she did from a photo and sent it via Facebook on my birthday this month.  When I asked Irene to guest blog, I had no idea she would include the drawing, but I'm so delighted to be able to share Irene's artwork and thoughtful reflection.  Let her words and drawings bless you today!

It is finally done!

After spending a couple of minutes (hours or days in other cases) doing some visual calisthenics, studying the subject, then replicating it on paper as if I was some sort of live photocopying machine, I can at last affix my signature, breathe a collective sigh of relief and say, "It is finished."

"It is finished . . ."

Weren't those also the last words of our beloved Savior before He breathed His last?

Words He uttered just a few moments before His human heart stopped beating?

Words that the purpose of His ultimate sacrifice of giving up His life, in exchange for ours that were marred and taken away by sin, was already fulfilled?

A sacrifice to save our souls from death . . .

A sacrifice which can only be undertaken out of great Love . . .

Because He thinks we are all worth dying for . . .

A thoughtful Facebook follower told me, "Your dedication to art and your faith in God moves me to do the same and reach for my dreams, too."

And I replied, "in whatever you do, do it with love and for sure it will show.

And always work with God, never alone, and give Him the glory He deserves."

After that brief exchange of Facebook messages with her, however, I felt that she touched my heart more than I touched hers and inspired me to keep doing what I am doing.

God is really at work.

More sleepless nights, eye exercises, and flexing of hand muscles working on art pieces that certainly await me.

But if all of those also mean more love given, more talent put to good use, and more fulfillment of God's purpose for my life, then it will all be worth . . .

Because God is worth working for.

Irene Marie Cortez is an independent visual artist from La Union, Philippines.  Having a bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy and being an "almost" physician, she considers her present occupation as a redirection from God.  Aside from drawing, Irene loves to sing, read classic novels and books, and articles about the Christian faith.  You can find Irene at her blog, her art site and her shop.