This is a highly textured impasto oil painting adapted from a photo I took of my mother working in her garden.
I am deeply inspired and most appreciative of my parents.
When young, I often saw them working quietly and tirelessly behind the scenes, to provide the best for both me and my brother.
Maybe that was not your experience. However, know that honouring God’s divine blue print of family and parenthood unconditionally, will produce beautiful fruit in your life.
Words cannot express the gratitude I feel today
This painting’s meaning and symbolism helps put some of these feelings of respect and honour for my parents into words.
It is my tribute to them, and I trust it also gives you an opportunity to show or recall a tribute to your parents too, or reflect on your relationship with them today.
There are three aspects of this tribute
Firstly, my mother is pictured here almost hidden, and we only see her back.
This speaks of a life that is not seeking accolades, nor fanfare, happily serving the family you cherish.
I celebrate that in all parents.
And again, whether they did that or not, I still celebrate parenthood.
That’s because honouring them means we are honouring God himself, who instituted parenthood for our sake.
Secondly, I painted her with a round cloud directly over her head.
This is my way of saying she did a lot of good and is a saint. As subtle as this cloud is, obscured by the trees, it is on her as she works, it is my equivalent of a halo for a saint.
I didn’t paint a circular, golden, religious halo, as was customary for a saint, during the gothic era.
My view is that in the New Testament all believers were called saints, not just select individuals. It was by virtue of their being justified by grace, and their faith in Christ alone, by his work, not their own.
My mother’s fervent prayers for me were answered by God. I came to a point in my life when I realised He was seeking after me and had sent many people to speak to me. I chose to respond.
So, I used this glorious cloud cover to infuse the sacred and divine upon my mother to honour her sainthood and how it impacted my life. Again, it was not done through classical religious imagery.
I concur with Van Gogh who wrote to his brother Theo about the same thing, saying on September 3rd, 1888: And in a picture I want to say something comforting as music is comforting. I want to paint men and women with that something of the eternal which the halo used to symbolize, and which we seek to confer by the actual radiance and vibration of our colourings.
On another note, I think sainthood needs to be better understood. Have my parents been perfect in every way since young? No, besides having great strengths, they have also had real flaws, and at times we have had serious issues to work through.
However, I’m so glad we worked through things. That makes my relationship even more valuable. We came though the other side together.
And I saw the power of honouring in God’s name. It helped heal and lift our family to a higher place.
I had to realise that I, myself am not perfect either. I have needed to learn empathy and tolerance.
My guiding light has been Exodus chapter 20 in the bible, which in part says, to Honour your father and mother. And it has a promise stated with it, we are to honour, that it may go well with you.
It’s so true. I have learned to honour my parents. The good they do makes it easier, but honouring is best done despite the warts and all.
And as the promise states learning to honour in your own immediate family puts you in good stead and favour with all authorities in our lives.
Things start at home
This is especially a vital truth today given the tumultuous times we are living in, characterised by children disobeying their parents, which is becoming increasingly common.
Lastly, the greatest aspect of my tribute: That huge chalice shaped pot, full of tulips, standing imposingly up front, has great significance.
It takes precedence, up front, as the huge sign of tribute.
Also in ancient biblical culture, a chalice was raised in the air with wine upon a victory in war; see Psalm chapter 116 and verse 13. This raised chalice-like pot is my tribute to God, who has enabled my victory to navigate my family challenges.
My faith helped me to honour my parents sincerely, and to become a parent myself.
Actually, God spoke to me through that Psalm, and then the spirit of God enabled me to craft the painting with great joy.
I intentionally positioned the pot there to cause your eye to begin there naturally, and then to follow the path to my hard-working parent.
Putting God first helps me love on my parents all the more. I know they are a gift to me from Him.
Despite the pain of seeing a break down in relations, especially during one particular season, I learned forgiveness, and saw God unite us all miraculously.
I have come to know that God works all for good.
Are you speaking terms with your parents, is there a barrier? Don’t react in spite and pull back. Wait on God, pray and trust God for a break through in the spirit of honour.
The iconic hues and varied colours in the painting all speak of His glory, especially seen through His creation.
But there is more, this chalice-like pot of beauty represents the victorious rivers of delights (seen in Psalm chapter 36) which believers receive and experience in life, by God’s spirit.
We raise that chalice high when we acknowledge Christ’s complete victory over sin and death through the cross. Christ in us will help us overcome attitudes that restrict honouring them.
The Jericho walls will come down.
So, there you have it. I hope this painting encourages you to hold your parents dear.
For more details about the painting, and where it will be exhibited see this link.
©Mark Rusic
Mark Rusic was born in Melbourne and has a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. He became a missionary to many, suffering hardship and poverty on Madura Island in Indonesia, in 1990 for about four years. He worked as a pastor-life coach with Hope International Ministries from 2002 to May 2023, playing a key role in raising up leaders and elders for the local Melbourne Hope church, which lead today. Mark has also been active in conducting yearly trips to remote Indigenous communities, bringing teams for training and outreach, which he initiated from 2015. He also established a salt and light ministry to empower saints of influence in the marketplace from 2017.
Mark is also an artist and an author and has written two books which are both a collection of his own paintings, photography, and poetry. These include ‘Iconic Melbourne of Australia’ and ‘Iconic Animals of Australia- With a voice to release your giant potential within,’ which are available now on booktopia.com.au and at leading book retailers. He has been counted among some of Australia’s best authors on several occasions through Dymocks since 2014 and continues to be a motivational speaker in various community groups, organisations, and churches.
He is currently pioneering his itinerant ministry to bless Indigenous people and empower the body of Christ, while working as an artist, author and speaker.
