Source: Tumblr/oceanofdr3ams
Wanted to wish you all Happy Holidays with a little David-ish Christmas story….
One of the local charities I support insists on sending me stuff as a thank you for contributing… they do amazing work (providing food, shelter and services to homeless youth in the city) so I’d support them anyways, but it’s nice to get updates on the young lives they’ve helped turn around, along with the Christmas cards they print.
The Madonna and child picture above was used on some of this year’s cards, including the one I sent to David. I love the picture and it just seemed right, I guess, so I sent it off to the P.O. Box last month.
Then on Twitter, I noticed @GwenPo on my timeline was using this picture as her avi. She told me the artist had been inspired by a Christmas carol … you guessed it … Mary Did You Know 🙂 … here’s the rest of the story:
Divine inspiration
The painting was inspired 11 years ago when Morgan Weistling, now a 47-year-old father in California, heard Steve Amerson’s song “Mary, Did You Know?” on the radio. It was the Dolly Parton version.
One phrase stood out to him: “When you kiss your little baby you’ve kissed the face of God.”
“Immediately I felt I was supposed to paint this,” Weistling said. “I had been praying and asking God, ‘Give me an idea here.’”
Amerson’s phrasing appealed to him. “This little child she bore was God in the flesh, and yet, she cuddled and kissed him just as all mothers do.”
The painting poured out of Weistling in three days. He didn’t feel the need to sketch in charcoal on his canvas to begin, as he usually does; it was oil paint right away. He didn’t go back to make any alterations. The first draft was the final.
Weistling’s paintings are so realistic they look like photographs, and he uses people as models. His Mary was 16, a brunette named Katie who had a “sweet humbleness to her,” Weistling said. “It wouldn’t have worked with a blonde.”
The baby was of Jewish descent, born to a woman with a crack addiction and recently placed in a foster home.
Weistling knew he needed to master Mary’s kiss, rendering it tender, not “hokey.” Her left hand, pressing the swaddled baby to her heart, also was crucial. He had long admired the way Mary’s marble hand grips Jesus’ side in Michelangelo’s Pietà.
‘Gift from God’
Weistling’s published image, titled “Kissing The Face Of God,” sold out in two weeks. It remains his most popular painting — “my big gift from God,” he said — and the only original he’s kept, despite a standing offer of $100,000.
I’m glad I sent David that particular card. 🙂
MDYK … then…
and now…ish
Have a blessed holiday season, everyone!!!
[2013 update: Maria Sabias Que]
SnowAngelz: Canadian fans of David Archuleta 
Beautiful. Love the Song even more now and the picture is beautiful. David will love the Card.
Love hearing Holy Coincidences too 🙂 I had the pleasure of hearing him sing this in Beaver Creek. I cherish the Memories.
Would love to buy some of those cards. Are they still available ?
That’s the amazing thing, Heidijoy, I didn’t buy the cards, they just arrived after I sent my usual donation as a thank you, I guess. I’ve checked their site and I can’t find anywhere that says they sell them (http://www.covenanthouse.ca/Public/Home.aspx) but I’ll keep looking! <333
Thank You. Would love to have them to attach with the story. Merry Christmas.
When I first saw this panting I immeditely wanted to send it to David which I did last year.I just wanted him to see how beautiful it was and how this painter was so inspired by that beautiful song.I just think it is so beautiful that is why I chose it for my avi this yr.I originally saw this painting in The Catholic Spirit.com, maybe they could tell you where you coud purchase the cards.My very favorite picture.
TOfan, I am trembling here at the coincidence — I too receive the mailings from this charity and as soon as I saw the card with Mary and her Son, I knew it was the one I would send to David. Included in my words to him was my appreciation of how respectfully and reverently he sings the Ave Maria. I’m sure David won’t mind getting duplicate cards, especially bearing such beautiful artwork. Thank you for the story of the artist.
wow, steno, you just gave me chills! beautiful, just beautiful <33333
Tears. Thank you. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas everyone and Happy Holidays!
Thank you for that beautiful story!! That’s a beautiful picture and David will love the card!! Merry Christmas to all the beautiful and wonderful Archie’s that make make up this fan base!!
P.S. just realized I used the word “beautiful” to may times but that’s exactly how I’m feeling about the world on this Christmas Eve….so many things to be grateful for and we close in on the end of another year 🙂
I did the same thing with the word beautiful in my comment up above. How can you not use it when you see this painting.
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
MERRY CHRISTMAS
This is the best!!!!!
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa THANK YOU TEAM ARCHULETA FOR NOT INCLUDING THE ANNOUNCEMENT!!!! hahahahahahaha
you’re so right, Ref, this is the best!!
even a shout-out to the Idaho Potato Museum, @archugeezer!!! 🙂
love these youTube comments too:
Candy Bernard 47 minutes ago
Love this video. When he starts singing @5:39 … wow, wow, wow, wow, wow
mi1esfromyou 1 hour ago
I have to say his christmas album is one of the best! The songs are very christmassy
😆
Tofan loved your story!!!
Kinda gobsmacked by the gift David and team have given us!!!^^^^^
Happy Holidays!
Loved the behind the scenes video from Team Archuleta. It was great to see and hear David even if it was from a year ago. The video was really well done. A Christmas treat to the ODD David fan.
Wow – did not know that beautiful image had such a beautiful story to go with it! <3333
Had never heard Mary Did You Know before David. But it is suchhhh a beautiful song. Absolutely love it and now I seem to hear it everywhere! 🙂
Merry Christmas everyone! And loooooove that BTS vid. The best!!
What a beautiful post this is. Was at my sister’s last night, sharing with some relatives, friends and as part of my gifting, giving gifts of David’s music. In fact, driving with my niece she had David’s CFTH (which I had given her) playing in her car. I asked her if she put that on for me and she said well, I know you love David’s music but I think he has a beautiful voice too and he relaxes me (she leads a very busy life). I told her to keep listening to that voice…. as I gave her another album of his, of course. She loved the cover of BEGIN. and said his eyes were beautiful. I told her I thought so too. 🙂
TOfan, what a beautiful card you sent David and what a divine painting. I just love the story behind it. Gift of God indeed. I know the charity you speak of too, I also support them. They do so much good. Got a lovely set of cards from them too, must have been a different set than yours though.
David singing Mary Did You Know is just glorious. How wonderful for those who saw him sing this.
I remember when he sang part of that song at a summer VIP I went to in 2009…after someone requested it. I also remember him saying “well, that’s a Christmas song but then the message is all year round, so I’ll sing it” (not quoting exact words) but oh it was so beautiful.
What a fabulous gift this video is from David and his team. Love BTS videos, how sweet! Another special Christmas gift!
I’ve rambled again but want to wish Happy Holidays to everyone, have a peaceful, blessed Christmas. ❤
ramble anytime, peppertara! lol always love hearing your thoughts on things … how wonderful you heard even part of MDYK live!! Merry Merry Christmas!!!
Beautiful Deb!! Have a Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you too, Nan! *waves* <333
Oh and this….”Why yes, I am aware my hair resembles frosting….”. Haha, one of my faves TOfan, just love your sidebar pics. Yes, that hair is the icing on the cake for sure. 🙂
TOfan, I love that painting! It does have a reverence to it and such a feeling of love.
I don’t get to the fansites as often as I’d like to, because of caring for my mom right now, but when I do I love to visit here. Your sense of humor and your sincere posts are so refreshing. Many times they get me the lift I need just then. Thank you for all you do for us.
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to you and all who visit here!
aww, thanks so much for saying that, sweetonda, sending warm Christmas wishes to you and your mom! <3333
ohmyheck the connections just keep on coming … I’d mentioned to refnaf that I heard a wonderful program on CBC radio on the weekend about the history of certain Christmas carols, including O Holy Night. They interviewed a B.C. mezzo soprano who talked about how difficult OHN is, technically, but that it’s also one of the most rewarding songs to sing, that it’s one of the songs that almost gives more joy to the person singing it… that made me happy when I thought of David singing it. 🙂
Anywayyyyyy, I’d somehow missed vids of D. singing OHN when he was younger, so Ref kindly sent me this (grab your tissues) … it’s a video made by the lovely Abrra and check out the image she uses at 1:55! 🙂 )
Merry Merry Christmas, everyone!!!
Beautiful and Breathtaking 🙂 Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Tofan and all!!!
Feliz Navidad, dj!!!
…OHN (Spanish) in HD!!!! O Nocheeee DiVIIIIINAAAAAAA… the Christmas gifts just keep on coming!!! *sniff* (mp3 HERE from the lovely Abrra)
and I love this comment on the youTube (from a Canadian btw 🙂 )… “david Archuleta est un chanteur sans pareil. Il chante comme ange. Super. David va avoir du gros succès en 2014 après sa mission.” (David Archuleta is a singer beyond compare. He sings like an angel. Super. He’s going to have huge success in 2014 after his mission.)
Love hearing stories of how people became fans … just saw this one on Tumblr from a 21-year-old fan in Brazil:
k, I’ll stop spamming myself now, lol
HAPPY HOLIDAYS everyone!
I like Spam.
Kinda ♥’d your story TOfan.
Had never heard MDYK until I saw that top video of him, instantly fell in love with it, and him, again.
Happy Holidays and Happy Boxing Day. What stunning OHN videos, wow. I listen to David’s amazing, younger version every year and somehow forgot to do that this year. Thanks TOfan and to Abrra for that beautiful video. These HD vids just keep coming, they are gorgeous! Some wonderful surprises this Christmas. Love reading fan comments too and all the joy and enthusiasm that goes with them.
Thankful for that BTS video too and am so in love with David’s GP/Let It Be combo, incredible.
I just cannot stop looking at that painting. It’s so – loving.
Belated Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. <33
Merry Christmas, bets!!! <333
New post/thread!
🙂