Can Paint Trump Pain?

This is a story about two famous French artists, Henri Matisse (1869-1954) and Auguste Renoir (1841-1919):

Although Henri Matisse was nearly 28 years younger than Auguste Renoir, the two great artists were dear friends and frequent companions.

When Renoir was confined to his home during the last decade of his life, Matisse visited him daily. Renoir was in a wheelchair, almost paralyzed by rheumatoid arthritis, and in great pain. He remained able to grasp a paintbrush – although he required an assistant to place it in his hand – and Renoir continued to paint in spite of his infirmities.

One day as Matisse watched the elder painter working in his studio, fighting torturous pain with each brush stroke, he blurted out, “Auguste, why do you continue to paint when you are in such agony?”

Renoir answered simply, “The pain passes, but the beauty remains.”

Renoir continued to paint until the end of his life.

The next time we’re faced with a challenge, it helps to remember that the pain passes but the beauty remains!