Do you ever HIGH FIVE Jesus?

Living Proof was the name given to one of my most recent paintings. It was inspired by the “Doubting Thomas” story.

John 20:24-29 (NIV)

Jesus Appears to Thomas

24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

This painting has been well received at my events and online and has become one of my most popular paintings. I got a message about this painting from one of my biggest fans that had recently purchased several of my prints to display on her walls in her home. She has expressed the positive effect my paintings have had on her family daily and it brings me so much joy to hear. Her most recent message was candid and made me laugh out loud and praise God for the edgy and personal way he is using my art. Her note reads:

“I just had to share something with you that I find kind of funny and I think it may be on the unique side of things. I like to think that Jesus has a sense of humor and is in touch with how his children's senses of humor are. He knows how things are today with ways we greet people or congratulate people with a high-5 or a fist bump. So i felt compelled the other morning as I was going downstairs to stop for a moment in front of the arrangement of the pieces I recently purchased from you. I suddenly had this compulsion to touch my hand to Jesus' hand in the piece Living Proof. It felt to me like Jesus was telling me to High-5 him!! So I did… and now pretty much every time I walk by I place my hand lightly or very close to it as if I were High-5ing my Savior being careful not to knock it off the wall. Ha! I tell him good morning and good night every day... i just love having your pieces in my home. - Beth”

A few weeks later she sent me another message that really made me smile:

“Remember me telling you that I high-5 Jesus in the “Living Proof” print I got from you? My 15 yr old daughter suffers from depression....it has been so much better since getting her emotional support dog and now having a great boyfriend. However, she didn't get out of bed to go to school today and I was concerned. She said she was feeling fine last night then like a brick the negativity hit her and she started negative self thoughts and got depressed. I told her that because she has been so happy that Satan hates it and is trying to bring you to his level...talk to Jesus and pray to him. She told me that when she was going downstairs to take her dog outside she stopped and high 5'd Jesus and said "Hey Homie". Well…she said she started feeling better pretty much immediately.....so that painting allows us a special connection to Jesus and it brings some laughter to us all including Him I think. Thanks again - Beth”

I absolutely love this story and I really appreciate receiving messages because it builds me up and confirms my calling. Thank you Lord for your sense of humor and for using me and my artwork in such a unique and personal way. Please continue to inspire me to create paintings that connect with your children in a way that they see you as the loving friend and comforter that you are.