The sixth work in my Faith Series was born from a season of waiting, uncertaintity, and prayer.
My son was deployed aboard a United State naval ship to the Middle East while his own son was only a few weeks old. As conflict intensified, he was thousands of miles from home while his wife remained in Norfolk, caring for their newborn alone.I traveled to be with them for a week, helping where I could, but I quickly realized there was very little I could do to quiet the fear that accompanied each new headline. The only place I found peace was in prayer.
I began to understand, in some small way, the heart of Mary. I imagined the helplessness she must have felt as she watched her Son walk toward His suffering, unable to protect Him from the sacrifice that awaited. My own fears could never compare, yet they allowed me to encounter her not simply as an icon of devotion, but as a mother. The realization transformed my faith.
When my son finally returned home safely, we attended mass together in a church by his home. There I encountered a beautiful statue of Mary, Star of the Sea-the patroness and protector of sailors. I felt as though I had been led to her. She became a symbol of every prayer whispered during those long months apart and every hope carried across the ocean.
The church itself speaks of endurance. Its bold architecture was designed to withstand hurricanes, floods, and the relentless forces of nature. I found a quiet parallel between the physical strength and the resilience required of families who love someone serving far from home. Faith, like strong architecture, is often tested by storms.
In this composition, the crucifix forms a visual traid with Mary and the Christ Child. The child she lovingly holds foreshadows the Savior who would willingly embrace the Cross. Together, the Mother, the Child, and the Crucified Christ tell the story of love that protects, love that sacrifices, and love that ultimately trusts in God's promise even when the outcome cannot be seen.
This work is my meditation on motherhood, courage, and surrender. It honors the quiet strength of military families, the enduring faith of those who wit, and the hope that even in life's fierceist storms, we are never beyond the reach of God's protection.
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