Arborella Oct. 27 2017
Arborella was an abandoned child. She was left on the steps of the Santa Maria Concezione Dei Cappuccini Church in Rome. The year was 1638. It was a cold and unforgiving night. The winds howled through the city with no mercy on a little baby left alone in the freezing air.
Arborella’s mother, Sarah, was beyond heartbroken to leave her precious child. Her heart was bleeding and melting in grief.
How could a mother relinquish her beautiful baby girl? Only out of pure and absolute love. The kind of love that forgoes any self-serving notions.
Sarah was destitute. She lived in a filthy, rat infested hovel with many others who were in similar circumstances. Food was scarce and she survived in any way that she could. Sarah had briefly found comfort and a hot meal with a man who left as soon as his needs were met. Arborella was not planned, but she was loved.
Sarah hoped that by leaving Arborella at the church, she would have a better life, although this was highly improbable.
The priests who found Arborella believed she was worthless because she was born of such despicable parentage….a woman who abandons her baby, could hardly be anything else in their eyes. They would have tossed her out into the street to meet whatever consequences may come…….but Arborella’s savior showed up in the form of the church’s housekeeper……Mary. Mary begged the priests to let her raise the child. To get rid of the problem, they consented.
Arborella was indeed raised by Mary who was of kind heart and generous spirit. From the time she was able, Arborella worked hard, as evidenced by her calloused and raw hands. But she was happy……she was loved. Mary taught her about a man who lived long ago who also had a big heart and generous nature. He taught people to love one another, to accept one another for who they are and to turn the other cheek when wronged. Mary thought this meant to have forgiveness. His love is unending for All. Mary said his story was not always told in the way of reality. Mary believed that this man’s spirit is still with all people if they choose to let that loving presence into their hearts.
When Arborella was little, Mary told her this special man lived “up above”. Arborella wished she was taller so that perhaps she could get a glimpse of him in the sky. She tried and tried to reach up to his level, often perching precariously on very tall objects.
Arborella was envious of the tall trees that grew about the Church…..for surely they could reach up high enough to see the man of great Love.
Her desire was so strong, so profound and so unrelenting that she did indeed grow very tall. When she was 13 years old, Arborella was a towering 7 foot tall.
One auspicious and magical night, on the eve of the summer solstice, Arborella simply merged with the essence of a strong and beautiful tree. Part tree, part girl, Arborella continued to grow as she reached adulthood. For now she was firmly rooted into Mother Earth and able to reach toward the heavens.
She learned to know great love and peace. Not just from the spirit of the man who Mary had told her about, but from so many other loving and wise spirit sources that she communed with. The love that she exuded affected all that came near her, although only a few were aware of her true nature.
Sarah often came to visit and rest her weary body on the comforting trunk that was once her tiny and vulnerable baby.
Arborella was at peace because she WAS the essence of peace, strength and love.
A story by Wanda Honeycutt about “Arborella”… her mixed media painting Oct. 2017
Arborella was an abandoned child. She was left on the steps of the Santa Maria Concezione Dei Cappuccini Church in Rome. The year was 1638. It was a cold and unforgiving night. The winds howled through the city with no mercy on a little baby left alone in the freezing air.
Arborella’s mother, Sarah, was beyond heartbroken to leave her precious child. Her heart was bleeding and melting in grief.
How could a mother relinquish her beautiful baby girl? Only out of pure and absolute love. The kind of love that forgoes any self-serving notions.
Sarah was destitute. She lived in a filthy, rat infested hovel with many others who were in similar circumstances. Food was scarce and she survived in any way that she could. Sarah had briefly found comfort and a hot meal with a man who left as soon as his needs were met. Arborella was not planned, but she was loved.
Sarah hoped that by leaving Arborella at the church, she would have a better life, although this was highly improbable.
The priests who found Arborella believed she was worthless because she was born of such despicable parentage….a woman who abandons her baby, could hardly be anything else in their eyes. They would have tossed her out into the street to meet whatever consequences may come…….but Arborella’s savior showed up in the form of the church’s housekeeper……Mary. Mary begged the priests to let her raise the child. To get rid of the problem, they consented.
Arborella was indeed raised by Mary who was of kind heart and generous spirit. From the time she was able, Arborella worked hard, as evidenced by her calloused and raw hands. But she was happy……she was loved. Mary taught her about a man who lived long ago who also had a big heart and generous nature. He taught people to love one another, to accept one another for who they are and to turn the other cheek when wronged. Mary thought this meant to have forgiveness. His love is unending for All. Mary said his story was not always told in the way of reality. Mary believed that this man’s spirit is still with all people if they choose to let that loving presence into their hearts.
When Arborella was little, Mary told her this special man lived “up above”. Arborella wished she was taller so that perhaps she could get a glimpse of him in the sky. She tried and tried to reach up to his level, often perching precariously on very tall objects.
Arborella was envious of the tall trees that grew about the Church…..for surely they could reach up high enough to see the man of great Love.
Her desire was so strong, so profound and so unrelenting that she did indeed grow very tall. When she was 13 years old, Arborella was a towering 7 foot tall.
One auspicious and magical night, on the eve of the summer solstice, Arborella simply merged with the essence of a strong and beautiful tree. Part tree, part girl, Arborella continued to grow as she reached adulthood. For now she was firmly rooted into Mother Earth and able to reach toward the heavens.
She learned to know great love and peace. Not just from the spirit of the man who Mary had told her about, but from so many other loving and wise spirit sources that she communed with. The love that she exuded affected all that came near her, although only a few were aware of her true nature.
Sarah often came to visit and rest her weary body on the comforting trunk that was once her tiny and vulnerable baby.
Arborella was at peace because she WAS the essence of peace, strength and love.
A story by Wanda Honeycutt about “Arborella”… her mixed media painting Oct. 2017