Beauty for Ashes

$45.00

The Lord has sent me to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.

Isaiah 61: 1-3

Print Size 6.25 x 8.25

The Lord has sent me to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.

Isaiah 61: 1-3

Print Size 6.25 x 8.25

Behind The Art

I have a prayer book with this text as one of the readings for 
March 7, which happens to be my son Alexander’s birthday. He is an artist living in New Orleans. A few days after his latest birthday, I was having dinner with my other son, Joshua. We got a call from Alex. It was bad news. His studio had caught fire. Many of his sculptures were severely damaged and most of the paintings and drawings totally destroyed. His resolve and courage in dealing with this catastrophe (he had already been through Hurricane Katrina) is another saga. But his birthday reading with that startling imagery “beauty for ashes” will always have a special personal meaning for me, with its promise of comfort and grace and renewal. —Michael