36" x 36"
In the fall of 2024, my husband and I took our 3 kids to Gatlinburg, Tennessee to celebrate my son Teddy’s 4th birthday. It was such a life giving trip for us and we had a blast. But, not for one second am I gunna tell you it was a breeze.
It was WORK. Every single day, multiple times a day, Andrew and I would look at eachother, eyes wide, and mutter something like “the hellllll!”
Sure the kids were playful and fun and enjoyable most of our time there, but when they weren’t…when they had meltdowns or fought or were overtired - we were having to manage our circus in public, or on a long car ride to our next destination, or within someone’s air bnb that we were really hoping NOT to screw up with our chaos.
We put in work overtime. And why? So that our children could be children. So that they could play without worry. Eat without planning what to eat. Hop in the car without a thought other than “where to next?!” We gave that trip all of ourselves so that our three little ones could rest.
This is exactly how Jesus wants us to live. Completely free of worry because we know He is always working overtime in our lives. He is planning, and preparing, and making a way for us each and every second, with a hope that we can live in faith and trust in His ability to care for us better than we can care for ourselves. He holds our life in His hands so that we can be like a child - humble, innocent, and playful.
There’s nothing more that Jesus wants than to take care of us. He wants to be a Father. One that probably often says “the hellll, Natalie”, but will continue to show up for me over and over anyway. No matter how much I lack trust.
I’m just so grateful that I have a Father in heaven who never stops taking care of everything for me so I can be free.
He called a little child and he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.” Matt 18:2-5
This painting comes with a certificate of authenticity.
Artwork © Natalie Haydel Barker. All rights reserved.
