'A Quiet Strength'

Student Reflection

The scripture passage I chose is Matthew 1:18-2:12, ‘The Birth of Jesus and the Visit of the Magi’. The focus of my artwork is the donkey, which carried Mary on the journey to Bethlehem and played a quiet, yet vital role in this sacred story.

I relate to this passage because I experienced the birth of my younger sister in 2018, which gave me an appreciation of how precious new life is within a family. I also connect it to my own travels across Australia, especially through deserts, where I could imagine how exhausting the journey would have been for the donkey, as well as for Mary and Joseph.

This scripture strengthens my faith by reminding me that even in times of challenge, Jesus brings light and hope into the world. It inspires me to reflect on my choices and strive to follow the example of trust and courage shown by Mary and Joseph as they placed their faith in God’s plan.

Artistically, I began with an image of a weary donkey, then built depth with a 2B pencil, adding finer detail with a 3B pencil. My goal was to highlight the donkey’s resilience and significance in the Nativity story.