I don’t mean to offend any of you art connoisseurs, but this Picasso painting, Dora Maar, is downright ugly in my estimation. However, it is true that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I guess that’s why someone paid 95.2 million dollars for that painting at auction. Truthfully, I dislike most of Picasso’s work, yet some of it has sold for more than 100 million dollars. As they say, to each his own.
As for me, I would rather have a Thomas Kinkade. His artwork may not be as famous or as costly as Picassos’, but it is far more aesthetic. Known as the “painter of light,” Kinkade offers us a more realistic and pleasant portrayal of the world. Even so, his paintings only sell from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand.
Even if I had ninety-five million dollars to spend on a single painting I wouldn’t, especially not a Picasso. He may be considered an artistic genius but I just can’t get past the grotesque appearance of his subject matters.
I can’t even begin to imagine why someone would choose a ‘disfigured’ painting like Dora Maar over one that is serene, such as Kinkade’s Stillwater Cottage. 
Then again, I can’t imagine why my Lord, Jesus Christ, would find such value in me. If not for His grace, my life would still look more like a Picasso than a Kinkade. It wouldn’t matter though. Ugly as my life was, Jesus paid much more than $95 million dollars for me; He paid for me –and for you – with His own life.
Like the Picasso, I may not seem attractive to some. But again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It doesn’t matter if I like Picasso’s work or not, he will always be considered a great artist and his work will always be highly prized.
Likewise, it doesn’t matter if others like the way my life looks or not –and that includes my physical appearance – because I was created by THE artist who created the heavens and earth and colored our world with beauty and splendor. As long as my life is one of the ‘paintings’ in God’s gallery, I will continue to have value beyond what this world can afford.
The same holds true for you too, dear reader. Don’t ever let anyone devalue you. Even if you feel your life is a mess, you aren’t finished yet. You are a work in progress. God knows all your shortcomings and inadequacies and He still thinks you are beautiful. That’s all that matters!
“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7)
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Love your blogs! And I’m with you on Picasso, and would MUCH rather have a Kincaid!
WOW, confirms a song that that I’ve heard many times before but came to life to me this week and I decided we need to learn it for praise and worship, named “Who Am I”. I heard it in my head the entire time I was reading your blog! Don’t remember who it is by, I can easily find out, but it is beautiful in my estimation and says it all for me. Especially the second verse…
Who am I~ that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt!
Who am I~ that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart!
Not because of who I am,
But because of what You’ve done.
Not because of what I’ve done,
But because of who You are!
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
And still You hear me when I’m calling
Lord, You catch me when I’m falling
You’ve shown me whose I am
I am Yours! I am Yours!
Who am I~ that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
and watch me rise again!
Who am I~ that the voice that calms the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me!
Not because of who I am
But because of what You’ve done
Not because of what I’ve done
But because of who You are
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I’m calling
Lord, You catch me when I’m falling
You’ve shown me whose I am
I am Yours! I am Yours!
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Amen!!! Such truth.
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Since you like Picasso, check out my blog at http://segmation.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/leonardo-and-picasso-artists-of-their-times-www-segmation-com/ Thanks!
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Love this and thank you!
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As to the song “Who am I”. Casting Crowns sings that song. It is one of my favorites too. It is a very touching song.
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“I can’t imagine why my Lord, Jesus Christ…”
Stopped reading.
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I’m sorry to hear that you stopped reading. This post has blessed a great many readers around the world. I personally feel that it is always beneficial to remind folks that “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7)
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