Renewal.

Renewal - 30"x40", Acrylic on canvas, ©2025 Elise Ehrenholz. Private Collection.

I have been pondering the meaning of this painting. It came together so quickly I needed to take a minute to think about what it meant, you know, the heart of it. I had written quite a few things down, and then decided to delete it all, because there is an occasion for a simple meaning and this is one of them. At the heart of this painting is the theme of childlike faith. There feels like there is a little story to go with it. I kept thinking about how these flowers were in a vase on a table in someone's kitchen. Adorned with a bow as if for a special occasion standing in the freshest of water, they were at first bright and full of life. There was a small child in the home and they were enamoured by these flowers, in fact they had never seen anything like them! They walked by the bouquet every day taking in all their beauty. As time started to pass though they noticed the flowers were starting to droop and fade, becoming more fragile as time passed by. No one had given them fresh water in a long time and it was starting to show. That's when the child began to grow concerned about them. They were told, "There was nothing that anyone could do", "They were just passed their bloom" and, "This is just the way of things." This response by the adult in their life made them incredibly sad. So they decided to take action and without asking permission they took the vase, ran from the house, out into the garden. Once by the flower bed the child carved out a hole in the garden with their tiny hands and then lovingly put the entire vase, water and all, into the cradle of soft black earth. They pushed some of the dirt from the garden bed all around the stems of the flowers and patted them like they were tucking them in for the night. Their hands were dirty but their heart started to swell with happiness and soar for now there was a chance that the beloved flowers could be saved after all. And then a curious thing happened. The flowers that were already in the garden spontaneously started to lean in towards them. The sun shone down upon them all and the older flowers began to gently intertwine their vibrant stems with those of the faded bouquet. As the child stood there a breeze blew up declaring that a storm was coming and the first raindrops started to fall. The child again became concerned, but looking down at the flowers they suddenly weren't worried at all. The flowers that were well grounded had shared their strength with the ones of the faded bouquet, in essence holding them up. And because this is art and no natural laws apply here, the little faded bouquet, well the stems of the flowers started to grow roots and they grew fast. They grew like magic beans would and just as strong. The quick growing roots broke through the glass vase without getting damaged and before the child knew it was like those flowers had never been cut at all. Fragrant and beautiful, they had turned their flower petals up towards the sky. Full of hope they had no worries about what was to come. They were back where they belonged. They had come home. 

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." - 2 Corinthians 5:17. 

"So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him." - Luke 15:20. 

"For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved." - 1 Corinthians 1:18. 

Have you made your decision to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour?

There is no better moment than right now.

"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."Romans 10:9-10

"This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent." - John 6:29

Keep stretching your hands out to God dear hearts. Pour your heart out like a waterfall to Him. The road has surely been rough, but we are mighty in Him. Praise you Jesus. You did it all.

©2025. Elise Ehrenholz