Courage by Thomas Kinkade ~ Life Values II, Published February 2004 - The moral order of God's universe is like an exquisite tapestry; the foundational values of the good life interweave in a seamless whole.

In my Life Values Collection, I explore the connections between these divinely inspired values. "Perseverance," the first issue, considers life as a voyage through stormy seas - a test of faith and a demonstration of God's sustaining love. "Courage," my new Life Values painting, expands on the metaphor of a sea voyage, bringing us to the moment of divine inspiration, when God graces us with courage beyond the merely human - the resolve we need to overcome any obstacle.

I make full use of a vocabulary of personal artistic symbols to convey this message: God rewards our perseverance with His gift of courage. Our lone sailor has come within sight of a lighthouse; the beacon of divine love will guide him to shore. Smoke curls from the chimney of the keeper's solid brick cottage, hinting at domestic comforts within. A sublime radiance breaks through the clouds, embracing the boat in its holy light.

I painted "Courage" at a time when I was especially grateful for God's hand of deliverance in my life. May it remind you that courage is, truly, a gift from the Almighty. - Thomas Kinkade

Key Points

1. COURAGE, a work of personal meaning for Thomas Kinkade, is the second painting in the Life Values Collection.

2. Perseverance, the first piece in the Life Values Collection, depicts a humble sailboat bravely navigating its way through the ending of a storm, symbolic of the stormy vision of life at its most challenging moments. In COURAGE we now see the same sailboat has come near the shore, illustrating Thom’s message that storms which confront all of us during the journey of life can be overcome through perseverance, faith, and courage.

3. The journey of life, like the journey across an ocean, continues even after we reach safe harbor. COURAGE is a work of personal meaning for Thom, and his prayer is that it will inspire us with a bit of hope and courage when we need it most.

4. In COURAGE, Thom has hidden a total of 7 N’s as a tribute to his wife Nanette.