In Due Season We Shall Reap

The Blessing of Art in Handling Stress

Jul 09, 2025

We are in our tenth year living as sojourners. We have not returned to our homeland in all that time. The ten years have been full of faith-building moments. Almost every day, there are stressful trials while living in a difficult culture. Even in those trials, it is clear that our Father is working on our behalf, and many times of refreshment has come directly through His Word.

An Unexpected Coping Mechanism Entered Our Life

During these ten years, the Father brought a blessing into our lives through my wife. He introduced us to the healing power of art. Drawing, sketching, painting, and even digital art. This way of creating was not a big part of our past. My wife’s passion for art was ignited by an old friend she was reacquainted with. It started with “Zentangles.” Then it moved to sketching, then painting, and now “doodling.” Nowadays, all of these forms of art are extremely popular. Art has become well-known as a way of handling stress and improving focus.

(Before I go further, let me take a moment to introduce you to AJ Doodles. My wife and son run this publication, sharing their art in doodling. If you love art or want to learn how to love art, follow this newsletter!)

Lack of Interest As A Child

When I was growing up, art was a mandatory subject in school;I participated because we had to. Occasionally, I enjoyed a small project here and there, but for the most part, I was not interested. (Ironically, I felt this same way about music class.) My passion in my childhood was primarily sports. The time I spent in athletics year-round did not leave time for pursuing music or art. As soon as my college years started, singing and playing guitar became a major part of my life. And now, in my fifties, I have a high regard for art as well!

Weekly Leaf Painting Challenge

In 2019, my wife began to develop her art talents and started teaching classes to Middle Eastern children. Of course, our family also became her students.

We all began to improve in our painting skills slowly. In the fall of 2023, our family did a weekly art challenge. We each picked a tree in our neighborhood and sketched a leaf while they were still green. I chose an apricot tree. Every week during the fall, we sketched and painted a leaf from the same tree as the leaves changed color.

Eventually, the leaves fell off the trees and turned brown, giving heed to the annual cycle in autumn. This was a challenging exercise. It was very relaxing and rewarding to focus on small details and track the changes in the leaves each week.

Final Painting Challenge — Fall 2023

At the end of this project, we had one final challenge: sketch and paint an entire scene involving the leaves. I went outside to the apricot tree. It was late November 2023. At the base of the tree, several of its leaves were on the ground, all with various colors. I was drawn to what I saw, so I took a picture and planned my project. It took me a few weeks to complete my sketch and painting.

On the walls of our living room, there are numerous art projects we have made throughout the time we’ve been in the Middle East—mosaics, paintings, and more. Since my wife is our art leader, she decides which paintings are put on the wall. I don’t claim to be very good, but when I finished my painting, I thought there was a good chance it would make it on the wall. I was right. It’s been there since January 2024!

Here is the picture and my painting side by side. You won’t be able to guess which is the painting. (Hahaha…)

Once the painting was done, I waited until I had an inspirational quote to fill in the space. I was not in a hurry and waited about a week for the words to come to me. They finally did, and it is the perfect message I need to have staring at me on the wall.