The Little Girl In Jesus' Lap

abuse art

This has been a very healing drawing for me. A dear friend was having some problems with a close relative's continued criticism of her. As she prayed one day, this scene came to her mind. She told me about it, then said "Annie, I think you should draw this picture."

I told her I couldn't draw, but she said, "Try it." One day as I sat waiting for my therapy session, I decided to try to draw it. This is what emerged. When I looked at it, I knew the little girl was me, and I knew just how she felt. I wouldn't have identified with her before, but because of some healing just prior to this, I could identify.

I had always felt everyone else was better than me -- more special, more loved, more worthy. But as I looked at this picture, I realized that I had sat week-after-week in my counselor's office and let him see what was inside of me. Even some family members had come in, some written, and all said negative things about me. But through it all, even when I felt like he would recoil from me because of my shameful past, my therapist never even looked at me differently. He continued to love me and nurture me as best he could. When family members were in his office, no matter what they said, he was there for ME, and it didn't matter if they were telling the truth or lies. He still cared for me.

I realized if he, a human, could continue to love me unconditionally like that regardless of what I or others said, then certainly Jesus could. And I saw Jesus looking at this little girl (me), with delight. He's not even paying attention to what others are saying. He is just delighting in his little girl and the little girl is basking in his love and nurturance. She's not letting anyone take this pleasure away from her.

I know I can't really draw, but this picture speaks more than a thousand words to me--words of healing, love, comfort, and pure joy.

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