ABBA'S WAY TO LOVE

Artwork story

"Abba's Way to Love" is an oil painting on canvas, measuring 32 by 42 inches, and part of the series SONShip. This work explores a father's love through the lens of correction, illustrating how enduring pain can ultimately reveal our best selves. Reflecting on childhood experiences, I draw parallels between parental guidance and my relationship with Abba (God). Just as childhood corrections felt burdensome, they were, in fact, preparations for growth. This piece invites viewers to consider the transformative power of love and correction in their own lives.

SONShIP
I grew up in an era where discipline was an art form. Your sentence was always precisely measured by the gravity of your offense, your age, and—if you were lucky—your honesty.
The infamous "pick pin" was reserved for the extreme cases or the particularly stubborn. In those moments, you felt everything: regret, a dash of self-pity, and the dramatic feeling that the world was ending😭. Yet, inevitably, you’d emerge a "changed person"—even if it only lasted for twenty-four hours!😁
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on God as Abba, specifically in His role as a Father who corrects. In my own walk, I’ve felt His discipline—sometimes it’s a gentle tap on the fingers or a quiet nudge in my spirit. But I often think about my "Kingdom siblings" who might be in a season of heavy "flogging," perhaps feeling the weight of a divine "side-eye" or the heavy silence of a season of correction. If that’s you, remember: correction is a primary dialect of love. As the scriptures remind us:
Hebrews 12:6: "For whom the Lord loves He chastens..."
Proverbs 3:12: "For whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights."
Proverbs 13:24: He who loves his son disciplines him promptly.
God doesn't discipline us because He is angry; He does it because He recognizes us as His own. Without correction, are we truly walking as sons and daughters?