When I was a little girl, in order for me to fully understand something, I needed to feel it.
It drove my parents crazy. I would fiddle with the buttons in the car or the dials on the radio. One time I even placed my pudgy four-year-old hand on the stove burner because it was a bright, vivacious red and looked so pretty. Turned out it was just plain hot.
Not a lot has changed as I’ve gotten older. I’m nineteen now, and my hands still find themselves wandering – to feel, to touch, to apprehend.
My hands long to feel, but more than that, they long to create.
I create when I’m sad, and I create when I’m joyful. I create because it’s therapeutic, and I create because it’s necessary. I create because I have to feel in order to understand.
Earlier this year when my mom was diagnosed with cancer, I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t comprehend what was happening. Usually when I’m lost or confused, I write. But in that particular time, the words refused to come.
The words refused for a good long time.
But my hands still itched to understand, so instead of creating words, I created art.
I painted, and water colored, and illustrated, and lettered, and drew – verse after verse, quote after quote, lyric after lyric – desperately trying to grasp onto anything that was solid or steady or concrete.
Jesus met me as I created. He met me there in my water-colored brokenness. He met me in my pain that was a thousand shades of ugly. He met me as I stroked my hurt across the card stock, as I lettered the prayers I could not utter onto the page.
And with that, I was given a choice.
The choice to choose brave.
It was my mom who named the shop where I now sell these hand lettered prints. The Choose Brave shop.
Bravery is not about not having fear. It’s not always a ferocious lion, or a huge army of strength. It’s shaking knees, nauseous stomach, want-to-run-as-far-away-as-possible. Like our beautiful friend Lisa-Jo says, scared is the new brave.
This has been the year of brave for me, and maybe it’s the year of brave for you, too.
Choose brave, even when it’s hard. Choose brave, especially when it’s hard. Choose brave, always.
(And if you’re anything like me and your hands need to feel in order to understand, go on now, go create.)
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I wish I could treat you to a caramel iced coffee and an extra large ice cream cone. But since I can’t do that, and because I just LOVE this amazing (in)courage community, please use the code INCOURAGELOVE at the Choose Brave shop (choosebrave.bigcartel.com) for 40% off your entire order. That makes the 8.5″ x 11″ prints only $6! Hip hip hooray!
Maylee says
Being brave definitely takes courage…. And you are right, shaking knees are so much a part of learning to be brave. Our Lord gives us these scary moments to remind us that we are so much more braver than we think. Thinking of you and your mom and wishing the very best:)
Aliza Latta says
We ARE so much braver than we think, aren’t we Maylee? Thank you for your thoughts and prayers! xo
Mel says
“Choose brave, even when it’s hard. Choose brave, especially when it’s hard.” Oh, this…it seems to be my life right now…your words met me exactly where I am this morning. (I love how God plans that!) Beautiful…thank you! (((hugs)))
Aliza Latta says
Oh that makes my heart happy! I love when Jesus sets up things like that. Hope your day is lovely, Mel.
heather m says
How beautiful!… your art, your story, your soul. The love of your Savior shines through it all. Thanks for sharing your heart Aliza. Prayers and blessings over your mama and you as your family makes this brave journey. xo
Aliza Latta says
Thank you for your prayers, Heather. They mean the world to me!
Jennifer Kostick says
I LOVE this! My one word for the year is brave. God gave me an acronym for it.
Bold
Ready (and)
Available
Vying (for)
Everything (God wants to do in my heart and through my life.)
Your art is beautiful. I’m going to have to purchase one of those prints! Be blessed today!
Sara says
I have been writing about fear the last month too. My series is called fearless and I came up with a list of things that scared me but I wanted to do. And here was this post talking about being brave and conquering fears. I love these little coincidences in life! Thanks for sharing your beautiful artwork.
Theresa McGuire says
Your words are mine. I am an artist/painter as well. I relate to what you are doing. I am there my pain is real and devastating. ..unrelentless…..I do fine my peace with God and a deeper understanding once I indulge in that haven. I need my peace to stay alive….running towards that.
Robyn says
Thanks so much! I just bought your print of Psalm 91:4 to give to a friend who is fighting cancer. You are such a blessing!
Aliza Latta says
Robyn, thank you for telling me that. I made that print the day of my mom’s first chemo treatment. It has a lot of meaning to me, and I pray your friend is blessed by it. I know they are already blessed by you.
Toria says
Aliza-
As a fellow artist, I’m drooling over your work. You have beautiful talent, sister! I would love to compare notes and bounce ideas sometime?
Keep being brave, beautiful soul!
Chrissie Morris says
Thank you for sharing this. God has been telling me to brave for Him for a few weeks now. I was challenged by the Holy Spirit at Cherish conference in May – and I told God I wasn’t brave enough! The next song the band played was, ‘You Make Me Brave!’ What a way for God to speak! How wonderful! I know what God is telling me to do – but I’m being thwarted by some people who don’t like it. After a particularly bad morning and a huge put down, this has popped up on my laptop. Just what I need today – so I thank God that He has sent your work and words my way.
I would so love these to be available in England!
Aliza Latta says
Hi Chrissie! I’m so glad this resonated with you today! I love that song! Just so you know, the prints can be shipped anywhere – you just choose the country you need it shipped to!
Lisa Spina says
Aliza, I love your work and so enjoyed your shop today. Creating art as a means to heal ourselves and encourage others is very timely for me. Thanks for sharing your art and journey. God bless!!!
Aliza Latta says
Thank you so much Lisa. I truly hope you enjoy your pieces. Thank you for your encouragement!
Trudy Den Hoed says
Thank you, Aliza. I really needed this. I’m struggling to be brave. I started an art journal, but my perfection often gets in the way of creativity. I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s like something deep inside me wants to break free and be brave and create with abandon no matter how it looks, but the perfectionist part of me keeps criticizing and I’m struggling with giving it up. I remember being creative as a child, but life’s hurts got in the way and stifled it. Anyway, I’m trying to reclaim it, but it’s hard.
I love your art, especially the “She who is brave is free” and the feather one. Thank you for sharing them and for your encouragement. How is your mom doing now? Praying for healing for her in every way and for you and your family emotionally.
Aliza Latta says
Trudy, brave is h-a-r-d. I think because often times brave is really messy and imperfect, and that’s why it can be so hard! But know this: I think you’re brave. Your art journal is evidence of bravery to me. Brave looks like all different things – the overwhelmingly large, and the things that might feel itty bitty small. It doesn’t mean one’s braver than the other.
Thank you for your prayers. I am so appreciative of them! She is doing fairly well, thank you! Still quite a few more “humps” to get over, but it’s a journey… and every day is a little bit closer than the day before.
Jessica Hoover says
I simply love this! LOVE IT! Beautiful and oh so brave. How long is the code good for?
Aliza Latta says
Hi Jessica! Thank you! The code’s going to be good for a long while… at least a month or so!
Courtney says
Has the code expired? I just tried to use it and it says it’s invalid.
Aliza Latta says
Hi Courtney! Yes, the code has expired! But I have another code available for a specific new print here: http://choosebrave.bigcartel.com/product/song-of-songs-4-7
It’s 50% off with the code “iambeautiful” until August 4th!
Gayla says
Aliza…. My young friend… You are incredibly gifted, talented and wise beyond your years. Thank you for sharing your heart with such poetic words and unique sketches.
Praying especially for your mom and your family this week. Be brave!! God is with you even when you don’t feel Him. He is always there carrying you through the hard times.
Traci@tracesoffaith says
Alia, Beautiful. That you could not write for a time resonated with me. When my dad died, the only comfort I could find was reading my Bible. This reaches to the depths of my soul. Perhaps like your art does for you?
Beth WIlliams says
Aliza,
This is a choose brave year for me also. My aging dad moved into assisted living and had medication issues that landed him in the hospital and rehab. Add to that I’ve been wanting to quit/change jobs and my hubby got some news. Through it all I have tried to maintain sanity and be a good Christian.
Choosing brave and praying hard about my situations has helped tremendously. Today while making dinner I turned on the radio and God had a surprise for me. “The Words I would Say” was playing.
“Be strong in the Lord And never give up hope
You’re gonna do great things I already know
God’s got His hand on You So don’t live life in fear
Forgive and forget But don’t forget why you’re here
Take your time and pray These are the words I would say”.
I wanted to run out to my hubby and tell him what God had spoken to us. God is amazing!
Blessings 🙂 Prayers for your mom. May God heal her of the cancer she has!!!