It’s a strange way to start, but start we must. This is on Henri Frederic Amiel’s grave stone. I was interested in reading these verses after choosing the things he said.
Paul speaking:
The verse before: ‘Be not deceived God is not mocked: for whatsoever a person sows, that will they also reap.
For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap , if we faint not.’ (This is the verse after.) Galations 6 :7, 8, 9
The whole was bowed.
The flower, bud, and leaves.
The wind had helped, too.
‘ Who has seen the wind? Neither you nor I, but when the trees bow down their heads, the wind is passing by.’
Christina Rossetti
The whole composition was poignant.
‘There is no respect for others without humility in one’s self.’
Henri Frederic Amiel. (He was a Swiss moral philosopher 1821 – 1881.)
I set my mind to look at it and paint the double tulip as I saw it. The photograph is how it was.
Here are another two thoughts from Henri Frederic Amiel:
‘ Life is short, and we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are travelling… the journey with us. Oh, be swift to love, make haste to be kind.’
And then this one about women:
‘Women wish to be loved without a why or a wherefore, not because they are pretty, or good, or well bred, or graceful, or intelligent, but because they are themselves.’
This morning, the double yellow tulip had changed. The leaves weren’t taking up water well, but petals were opening, and the bud too was growing.
Lao Tzu 571 BC
I travelled with the words bow and respect.
Here are two more thoughts:
‘Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners.’
Laurence Sterne
‘ Think not that humility is weakness, it shall supply the marrow of strength to thy bones. Stoop and conquer, bow thyself and become invinsible’
Charles Spurgeon ( O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before Him, all the earth…for He cometh to judge the Earth, he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His truth. Psalm95 :9, 13)
I find painting a joy and reading about the lives of people who have said things that have stayed with us . I hope your days are good. We have some sun this afternoon, so maybe the bluebells will come out some more and be at their best soon.
Take care,
Sandy 🙂