Of Beauty and Light

Of Beauty and Light

This past week my mother and I drove to Dunnellon, Florida. It could have been a somber event. You may remember in 2025, I posted a photo of a painting my mother’s oldest living friend painted for us. 

Mary was a gifted artist. She is now walking the streets of heaven with all its beauty and saying, “I could paint that!” You see, Mary died later in July of 2025. 

It has taken a bit for her children and grandchildren to take care of everything. 

This week, though, after working their way through all of Mary’s collections, paintings, jewelry, and household items, her children decided who would keep what and what they might need to gift or sell to others. 

A private sale was arranged before inviting the public. My mother and I attended the private event. Mom claimed a pair of Mary’s earrings. A remembrance of Mary’s beauty. (The woman loved her bling!)

Mary was a true artist. There were a few canvases her brush had yet to touch. I love to paint, so I purchased those from her kids. 

Then on the way out, I took another walk through one room leading to the kitchen. There on the table were several kerosene lamps. I have fond memories of lamps like those at my maternal grandparents’ house in Kentucky. 

Even after they had electricity, Grandma would light one of those lamps and tell us ghost stories late at night. I made a last-minute decision to claim one of Mary’s kerosene lamps as well. 

To me, those two remembrances represent Mary. She was creative and loved to see paint on a canvas emerge as a memory like the one of her and my mama standing in the ice-cold water of the Rainbow River praying over their children. As I dip my brush into the paint, I only hope to capture such a sweet memory for my loved ones.

And the lamp? A reminder to always be a light in the path of those around me. 

I want to look for the beauty in any place or situation. And I pray, I will always be a light in this world. Like our dear friend, Mary.

P. S. I have Covid. Yuck. My energy is waning. If you could, pass this post on for others to read. And Thank You!