Sunday's ART of Truth - "We are the keepers of the letters that set us free" - 7-18-21

Hello friends,

Wow, this beauty was such a joy to make! I have had the quote for a bit of time from a book by my favorite author, Charles Martin! Before I get started sharing the inspiration, the quote says, “We are the keepers of the letters that set us free.”

A little about this sweet piece. I wanted to just have a play at some messy mixed media today. My heart is drawn to these vintage girls. They speak to me of innocence, beauty and the magic of being young and loved. The cardboard was chosen on purpose with the top layer stripped away in places, looking worn and partial. The collage bits were some from photo copies of art that I have created as well as the French vintage envelope (that is a story within itself) The music page scraps spoke to me as well, for some reason I was caught by the fact that the bits had no words, just notes. Also, meaningful to me. Too much and too deep for this writing though.

Our stories are so important. The chapters that make up the stories of our lives are so crucial to who we are and how we move through our world.

In my journey, there was a time when I thought that the memories and the nightmares would never end. That I would never sleep peacefully again. I feared that I would become the things that had shaped me. I faltered in hope for a different life, a different story. As the healing journey went on (and on and on and on) I found myself unable to grasp every little piece. There was too much. My soul was wallpapered with experiences that were so vast and deep that I could not contain it.

As I neared the end of my journey, I found myself letting go of the details. You see, for all those years, I needed the details. I needed to understand my story and where I had come from. It was like someone had dumped a puzzle out in front of me and all the pieces landed picture side down. I worked furiously and with passion & courage, to turn over each piece and see what it was. For me, it was honoring the remembering and the courage of long ago.

By turning over all the pieces, I felt like if I honored the parts of my story with ears that would listen and a heart that would welcome the stories, that it would somehow make up for all the struggle and sadness. That healing would truly be the greatest revenge.

As I wrestled with myself over the details and the utter fatigue that I felt after 30 years of head down internal healing work, Jesus spoke to me. He reminded me that all the pieces are within me. I could get them anytime that I wanted. If I needed to revisit, they would be waiting. Nothing is ever lost.

But, in order to be set free, I needed to let go of the need to have every pixel of the picture filled in. So, I did.

I felt free. I felt scared. I felt like I was betraying myself. Often, I still wrestle with this.

When I read this book by Charles Martin, called the Letter Keeper, and the quote, “We are the keepers of the letters that set us free”…I was astounded. It spoke directly to that place in me. The place that periodically still struggles with the letting go and moving on. The honoring while still growing and moving to new places.

Our stories are so precious. I know it may sound weird to say that a story with horrors untold could be precious, but it is. I know that all the bits are inside of me. I imagine a cave of wonders. All the parts of me. All the memories that shaped me. The seemingly endless moments of courage, resilience and strength. I imagine all the things that God preserved for me.

I no longer live with fear of the remembering or the forgetting. I know my story. I am a survivor. I own my story. I am the keeper of the letters that set me free.

I want to encourage you today as you read this, my friends.

Life can be fierce, facing the darkness takes immense courage. Lending time to sit with sorrow, loss and betrayal is critical to our healing.

Sometimes, the pieces are small and sometimes big. Sometimes they are about losing a loved one. Other times, they are about losing ourselves.

Take the time to sit with your feelings. Give ear to the yearning in your heart. Acknowledge your struggle but also your strength.

You are beautiful. You are strong. You are loved.

Blessings,

Beloved-Reborn

Supplies used:

Golden Fluid Acrylic – Cobalt Turquoise & Burnt Sienna – see Basic Mixed Media Supplies list below

Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylic Paint – Medium Magenta – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=liquitex+heavy+body+acrylic+paint+medium+magenta&ref=nb_sb_noss

Vintage Envelopes – Lisa Wine Studio Etsy Shop – https://www.etsy.com/listing/826817550/french-envelopes-digital-download-french?ga_search_query=french%2Benvelopes&ref=shop_items_search_1

Vintage Girl – My Digital Files Etsy Shop – https://www.etsy.com/listing/724337737/printable-retro-girls-pictures-digital?ref=shop_home_active_5&crt=1