Twenty five years ago, my son and I were going through a difficult time in our lives. One day, while strolling through the aisles at Borders, I found a large, hardcover book called Color Your Prayers. It held an array of whimsical, black and white drawings, meant to be colored in…drawings that reflected all aspects of the human experience: hopes, dreams, fears, worries, uncertainties, love, joy, sadness, fun…

We would sit together, pick an image that resonated, color in the pictures and jot down our thoughts. I always dated the pages, as a reminder of where we were (emotionally), at a particular moment in time. Those pages were both an anchor and a beacon…something to turn to when things felt hard or I (we) needed to boost our spirits, dream, aspire. They gave us the chance to look backwards and forwards. Grieve loss and create anew…

That book was a faithful companion, sometimes even accompanying me when I traveled abroad. It didn’t matter how heavy that book was in my bag…it allowed me (us) to pour out what we were holding inside and, thus, lighten the emotional load that we were carrying. I’ve learned, over time, that when we release what no longer serves us, we are able to welcome in new and inspiring experiences.

I have not stopped coloring my prayers. These posts, alongside my collages, are a way to bring life to what’s swirling around in my mind and heart. Art and writing are such powerful forms of self-expression for me. They allow me to look backwards and forwards. Reflect…Release…Receive…Create.

If you could color your prayers what would they look like?