A Picture Paints a Thousand Words♡

Our Son turned 18 on 25 August. One cannot help to wonder where the time has gone. I remember every emotion and thought relating my pregnancies, both with my Son and Daughter. The joy, the gratefulness, the excitement.

 

You experience their remarkable development from being pregnant, the new-born stage, teething, laughs, becoming aware of their surroundings, the sound of their voice and the beauty of this bundle of the purest miracle one can think of, your child.

 

God knew you before you were born. He knew who He wanted your parents to be. He knew your date of birth and your last date on earth. That is why I believe that we as human beings do not need to know what the future has in store for us. 

 

I want to share a remarkable story of an experience I had a few months ago.

 

In April of this year, I had to have emergency surgery. The same hospital where I gave birth to both my Son and Daughter. With our sons birth, I was in room 7 in the maternity ward, a private room, and with our daughters birth, it was room 6.

 

Our Son was born on a Sunday and our daughter was born on a Friday, both in the afternoon. We had to say goodbye to our precious Melinde’ on a Friday afternoon.

 

In April of this year, it was no surprise to me that it was room 6, the precise room when our precious Melindé was born. The sister in charge was also the sister on duty when Melindé was born in 2006 and a school friend. It was so comforting and to no surprise that is was that specific room. I noticed the blue carpet, was replaced with beige coloured vinyl flooring. Without giving much attention to detail, just gratitude that it was room 6.

 

The day after my surgery, I found myself analysing the room in much more detail than the previous day. While studying the painting on the wall across my bed, it struck me that the girl in the art painting was a remarkable resemblance to my daughter. Especially her signature smile!

 

I took a photo and forwarded it to my sister living in Houtbay, 1000km away from me. She immediately phoned me and suggested that I buy the painting. She paid her neighbour who happens to work for the same hospital group at their head office in Cape Town, a visit.

 

Later that day, the Patient Experience Manager, one incredible person, visited me. She introduced herself and said she received a phone call. She explained that she was very touched and deeply moved by what happened to our daughter. She also did counselling on the paramedic who received the call-out on 2 August 2019.

 

Immediately I realised that this was not just any visit. The lady informed me that the hospital decided to donate the painting to me. I was astonished, so many emotions exploded within me. As if, our precious Melindé arranged the outcome. The art painting - when she was born until after my surgery - the art painting, went home with me.

 

Because I am a curious person, I felt the need to get in contact with the artist. I had many questions to ask. What was the inspiration behind the girl in the painting, her smile, her brown hair? I just had to know it all.

 

It was not a local artist as I initially expected, but an 81-year-old from the United Kingdom. Mr Gordon King. He was eager to answer all my questions regarding the painting, which was part of a collection he painted in 1986. It is part of his collection - The Arches.

 

He could not believe the resemblance. He explained to me that the models or in artists terms - subjects - he used were friends of his children. He did all the paintings in his garden. He originally named the collection - Flower girls.

 

I am forever thankful for Mr Gordon King, for making the time to answer all my questions. In my opinion, not a stranger on the other side of the world, rather a person who became a significant part of my journey.

 

Time is precious, but time can be cruel. We are not certain about tomorrow, but what we can be sure of, is that memories are priceless. Most of the time, the best experiences are born out of something ordinary. You only need to open your heart to your surroundings. Study it, breathe it, feel it.

 

Because if you believe, signs turn up everywhere.

 

Make time to make precious memories!

 

Kindest regards,

 

Liesel