“The Family Tree” by Sallie Reid
The painting is for people who want to begin their lives together as a family, based on the foundations of faith in God. The husband is like the canopy of trees covering his family with the greatest authority on earth—love. His love for his wife is to be as Christ loved the church. The color purple is symbolic of the royal priesthood he represents over his family. His greatest acts of love will be to serve his wife as Christ came to serve the church, providing and protecting a safe environment for his family to thrive in.
The woman’s love is represented by the glowing pink around and through the trees. Her willingness to receive the man’s love nurtures him and creates a safe haven for him. The honor and re-spect she has for her husband holds the heart of the family in her hands. The middle tree is symbolic of her anchor. Each child born to this union is represented by the smaller trees, and each is one of many trees that will benefit from the love of this union. The multiple trees represent the many lives that will come under the shelter of this union as a safe place.
The water reflects the love of Christ in their lives as they carry love to the world. The emerald tones suggest the concept of eternity in love, promoting growth in each other as equal partners. The rainbow of colors throughout the painting represent the promise to love one another.
