Heaven is the Face

16x20" Acrylic on Canvas

One of my childhood friends wrote me when she was 24 weeks pregnant with her little girl. (At the time of this posting she is very close to her due date and will be delivering in a couple of weeks!) She told me about how last year in February she had lost her son at 20 weeks of pregnancy. Her husband had taken the loss of the baby boy particularly hard. My friend told me how her husband heard the song 'Heaven is the Face' by Steven Curtis Chapman and it touched him deeply. If you have never heard the song just turn the radio on to K-Love (97.3 FM in KC) and you will eventually hear it. She asked me to paint a picture featuring the lyrics for her husband in memory of their little boy and in honor of their new baby girl. A beautiful combination, if you ask me. Here is the song in it's fullness:

Steven Curtis Chapman's "Heaven is the Face"

Heaven is the Face

Heaven is the face of a little girl

With dark brown eyes

That disappear when she smiles

Heaven is the place

Where she calls my name

Says, "Daddy please come play with me for awhile"

God, I know, it's all of this and so much more

But God, You know, that this is what I'm aching for

God, you know, I just can't see beyond the door

So right now

Heaven is the sound of her breathing deep

Lying on my chest, falling fast asleep while I sing

And Heaven is the weight of her in my arms

Being there to keep her safe from harm while she dreams

(If you did not know the songwriter lost his daughter in an accident.) Needless to say, the whole time I painted I was on the verge of tears! For some reason, I have ended up doing several custom art projects for similar occasions. For instance, my last painting was a watercolor illustration as a gift for a little blond-haired, blue-eyed baby girl who was undergoing chemotherapy and last summer I painted a memorial for a little boy who drowned at the age of 2. I don't know why I have been chosen for these things, but I see it as an opportunity to bring healing in a special way through something beautiful. Anyway, back to the present...

My friend also asked me to include a tree in the background. She said when they were ready to let go, they planned to place their sweet son's ashes with a tree so that he is forever growing. The tree became significant to her because her husband gave her a silver ring with a whimsical tree on it.

She mailed me the ring and a fabric sample matching her new baby's nursery and I got to work. At the time I had a waiting list of about 5 projects to do. One of them was for another baby of a friend in which the request was to include a stuffed lamb. Many times I work simultaneously on several projects. I started on the lamb painting first. After I finished the lamb I looked over my order forms to see which project I would start next while it dried. Immediately, I saw the fabric sample and tree from the first project and I was amazed at the color tones: the lamb painting matched the fabric perfectly. I switched projects. The lamb was an 'accident', not meant to be featured in the first friend's painting. But I added the tree, the lyrics and even used the print of the fabric sample as the pattern in the green hills. It turned out to be a really thoughtful and special piece for me to create. The brown eyes in the lamb were childlike and full of peace... and heaven is a place with no more tears - only complete healing and fulness of Life!

This is the letter I received after I mailed it:

It arrived today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH MY GRAVY!!!!!! Beth, I couldn't wait to give it to him so I ran out and got a frame this afternoon and I just got done showing it to him.

He is a tough guy and this knocked him off his feet! Overwhelmed with emotion doesn't even begin to describe his reaction. I didn't have to explain anything (he recognized the tree right away!) and the lamb in the picture is even more touching than you could have realized....he carried a tiny lamb around when he was a little guy and it now sits on a shelf in our baby girl's room!!!! Unbelievable!! (And LOTS of tears!)

I wish I knew how to thank you properly!!! I'm so humbled by your talent!!!!! When we get it hanging, I'll take a picture so you can see how well it fits! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!

Signed,

ALicia

A special thanks to Alicia for letting me work on this project for you. Your grace has touched me. You are a sensitive and thoughtful wife. AS I am sure your husband Brian would agree! I am honored to have been able to dedicate this painting to your little Liam. May God bless your family and give you many opportunities to share your story for continued healing and restoration.