My senior year in college, I discovered a painter whose works captivate me. Not knowing a thing about art to this day, I couldn't tell you what it is about Jack Vettriano's style that moves me so much, but I quickly decided that I wanted one of his prints to hang in my home. Of course, I couldn't afford such a thing on a college kid's budget, so I put that wish on my Christmas list that year. Having never shown any interest in art before, I'm not certain my parents took that request very seriously, especially since it was such an extravagant request. However, I put it on the list again the next year. But, that year, I had a degree that needed to be framed, and that took precedence. I think I asked for it one other time, but I don't remember what I received instead. Over the next couple of years, I continued to admire Mr. Vettriano's paintings from afar. I purchased a calendar with some replicas of his works and enjoyed the print that hung in the home of a dear friend (though, I admit, I was jealous).
The Summer of 2005 was a difficult time for me. I was experiencing a lot of loss and grief while being stretched spiritually in a variety of ways. I was having a difficult time understanding what God was up to in my life and working hard at learning to trust Him whether I understood Him or not. There was a series of prayers I'd been praying that year that came directly from Scripture but appeared to be going unanswered, and I was frustrated. Yet, through His Word and through His Body, God seemed to be speaking to me about persevering in prayer, sticking with it even when I couldn't see the answer coming.
As that summer drew to a close, I made a trip to Plano to visit my parents and see what they'd done at the house since they'd been remodeling. When Daddy walked me back to my old room, things were drastically different, and as my eyes scanned the room, they quickly fell on a large print of my favorite Vettriano leaning against the wall. I looked quickly to Daddy with all sorts of questions in my eyes. He chuckled and said, "We've had that for a while now, but you quit asking for it." I didn't cry exactly, but I know that tears pooled in my eyes and my throat constricted tightly.
In that moment, God spoke volumes to me about persevering in prayer, about believing that He hears me and that He desires to fill my life with good things, that just like I can trust my earthly parents to love me and to desire to bless me, my Heavenly Father is abundantly more patient and perfect in His rewards for those who seek Him diligently. There are still prayers from Summer 2005 I am waiting to see fulfilled, but now, I wait expectantly. And, that beautiful framed print hangs in my living room as a reminder to me that God grants the desires of my heart, and I should never stop asking Him for them.
