masterwordsmith-unplugged

by: Author Unknown, The Best of Bits and Pieces

Although Henri Matisse was nearly 28 years younger than Auguste Renoir, the two great artists were dear friends and frequent companions. When Renoir was confined to his home during the last decade of his life, Matisse visited him daily. Renoir, almost paralyzed by arthritis, continued to paint in spite of his infirmities. One day as Matisse watched the elder painter working in his studio, fighting torturous pain with each brush stroke, he blurted out: "Auguste, why do you continue to paint when you are in such agony?"

Renoir answered simply: "The beauty remains; the pain passes." And so, almost to his dying day, Renoir put paint to canvas. One of his most famous paintings, The Bathers, was completed just two years before his passing, 14 years after he was stricken by this disabling disease.

And so, almost to his dying day, Renoir put paint to canvas. One of his most famous paintings, Bathers, was completed just two years before his passing, 14 years after he was stricken by this disabling disease."

Renoir could have put away his brush years before when the disease grew worse. He could have become bitter about his life’s situation and given up. He didn’t. Renoir saw beyond the pain to the beauty.

Like the beautiful painting that was created from pained hands, God can take the painful experiences of our lives and create something beautiful in us. This does not minimize, trivialize or spiritualize the pain. Sometimes that pain is physical, but most often emotional. Still, if we allow God to work in us, He will use our painful experiences to shape our lives and form us into something more beautiful.

The next time you encounter pain, look beyond the situation and seek to persevere.

Look for God at work to bring beauty beyond the pain. God bless you!

Have a lovely day and a grand week ahead !