"An Artist's Walk with God"

A Walk

Cheryl Wilson

“Bound by Love: Walking Hand in Hand with God”

I was walking on the beach in the afternoon sun when my grandson asked me to hold his hand.  I asked him why as he was happily singing his arms before and while strolling on the sand.  He said, so I will not step on any jellyfish.  The jelly fish were abundant that day and I had told him about their sting and showed what one looked like. 

I told him I would watch out for them but he still wanted the safety of my hand. The rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the shore provided a distinctive addition to our sweet talk.

As we walked, I pointed out the beauty of seashells along the shoreline and we talked about how the water and the path of a shell reaching the shore is rough and that is why some of the shells were broken.  He talked about the flight of seabirds flying overhead. My grandson’s curious eyes sparkled with wonder, enjoying every detail of our surroundings as if it was the first time he had been there.

Suddenly, a shiny spot caught my eye, and I quickly pulled my grandson closer to me, steering him away from a lone jellyfish washed ashore by the tide. He gasped in surprise, his grip tightening on my hand.

“See, that’s why I wanted you to hold my hand, Gigi,” he whispered.

I smiled down at him, looking into his blue eyes, “I’ve got you, sweetie. I’ll always keep you safe,” I reassured him, my heart swelling with love for this precious child.

Together, we continued our walk along the beach, our hands intertwined as we navigated the sandy shore. With each step, I cherished the bond between us, knowing that moments like these were to be treasured forever.

As we walked hand in hand, I couldn’t help but reflect on the profound love I felt for my grandson. It was a love that knew no bounds, a love that sought to protect, nurture, and cherish him in every moment.

And in that moment, I thought of a love even greater than my own—a love full of compassion and grace. I thought of the countless times I had stumbled and fallen. I thought of the storms I had weathered, the fears I had faced, and the moments of joy in my life.

I was reminded of my awesome God, His an infinite, eternal presence—watching over us, guiding us, and holding us close with HIS hand.

Just as I had held my grandson’s hand on the beach that incredible day, so too did God hold each and every one of us in His loving embrace. His love and hope in the darkness, a source of strength in times of weakness, and a reminder that we were never alone.

And as we continued our walk along the shore, I whispered a prayer of gratitude for the precious gift of love—both earthly and divine—that illuminated our journey and bound us as family on that beautiful day.

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Cheryl Wilson

I paint intuitively by embracing spontaneity to allow passionate paintings to be born through a transforming layering process of acrylics and inks. Each layer informs the next story of paint. In addition to layers often you will find sand, coffee, glass beads or perhaps even a gum wrapper invoking the question of what story is being revealed. I paint what I feel, how I feel, and each found object in my art continues that story. It is my hope that you find a connection to my work and might, if only for a moment, become captivated and feel something within yourself. The art I create are visual expressions of my inner soul, spirit and passion. Once a corporate entrepreneur trapped inside a suit and wearing heels, the desire to put my feelings, thoughts, and emotions on canvas became too powerful. The life-changing event that turned the corporate pen into a paintbrush was the dark world of Alzheimer’s that struck my mother. I could not wait any longer to paint in the event that world captured me as well. Leaving the boardroom behind, what has emerged is a new language expressed on canvas. This language expresses the freedom and unbound passion to create and let my art direct itself without fear or influences that has previously stifled my intuitive style. Constantly moving around the world, staying in one place no longer than three years at one time, living in the back of a musician’s studio, provided the opportunity to meet vast numbers of different people from all walks of life. These experiences set the canvas for the style of abstracts I paint because I find these people, locations, and experiences are represented in each painting in some way.

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