Wall space is wonderful space. In Israel the Ten Commandments were placed on the doorposts, which, like walls, are conspicuous places that children and adults would both see often. I also remember the story of a widow whose husband and sons were all lost at sea. Even when her youngest son grew up, he too wanted to be a sailor. Trying to dissuade her resolute son she finally asked him what motivated him so strongly. He pointed to a picture on the wall that he and his brothers had beheld often: a picture of a beautiful ship at sea.

Here at home Dad and Mom have hung a lot of our pictures and this January picture-hanging was one of the first things we did when we had a free weekend. There was one picture however that was not of our own making.

On my next-to-last evening in Chaojhou, Taiwan, a Taiwanese teacher painted an original picture in the traditional Chinese style, titling it with his signature, stamp, the date, and my life verse, Matthew 6:26. From there I rolled it up and carried it on the train, through the rigor and heat of summer camps, and finally on the long trip home in August. Mom had been waiting to see it in it’s place on the wall ever since.

Using another scroll of tapestry material and an adhesive similar to Elmer’s glue, we found a way to hang it, completing the project last night. It is hanging up now. It is a tribute to the birds and plum tree blossoms in Taiwan and also to a friend who would not let me leave without a gift. Most importantly, it “pictures” the wondrous way God uses His Word, creation, and our common interests and skills as a daily reminder of His glory.