56- The Sad Artist

 

St-Takla.org Image: A sad old man صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: رجل عجوز حزين

Once, an artist and his friend entered a museum that contained two of his artistic pieces. One of them was a picture that he drew in his early youth and the other was after decades.

The artist looked at the two pieces of art and his countenance was saddened. His friend then asked him, “Why are you so sad?”

The artist shook his head and didn’t say a word. His friend continued, “You should be happy and proud of the great progress that you achieved along the years and is seen in your old and new work.”

With a sad smile, the artist replied, “I’m sad because I remembered what I promised myself when I was young and I’ve only fulfilled little progress of what I desired.”

Let us be happy for the work of God’s grace in us that continuously molds us to be images of Christ, the Creator, as we carry His picture within us. At the same time, let’s regret our inadequate submission to His grace. Let us not forget that we have not yet offered the picture of Jesus in our hearts what it deserves.

“Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature

Manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4.13).

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: الفنان الحزين.

The Gift of Pain

Short Stories (Stories for the Youth) Books by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

The Cost of Maturity