First—a big THANK YOU to all my new subscribers from yesterday! Yesterday may prove to be the biggest spike in new subscribers that I’ve ever had.
May 20, 2025
If you’ve been blogging for more than a minute like me (The Devotional Guy™ launched in 2013), people subscribing to your blog is extremely encouraging and uplifting.
Friend—whether it’s your first time or your hundredth, I SO appreciate your taking the time to visit my page today and read this post.
A couple of weeks ago, when I was visiting my Mom, the Bob Ross show Joy of Painting came on the local Louisiana Public Broadcasting channel (for clarification, Mom lives in the rural East Texas city of Marshall, about a thirty minute drive from the Texas/Louisiana border).
May 2025
Bob’s soothing tone caught our ears as he painted a beautiful mountain landscape. His show, Joy of Painting, ran from January 11, 1983, to May 17, 1994. In most episodes, Ross taught techniques for oil painting, finishing a new painting in each session. On occasion, an episode featured a guest artist demonstrating a different painting technique.
Ross was known for his soft, gentle way of speaking. He never seemed rushed.
He is thought to have painted over 30,000 paintings.
One of the things that are most memorable about Ross are the uplifting bits of wisdom he offered. His words often spoke beyond painting to life itself:
On Mistakes and Grace
“We don’t make mistakes — we just have happy little accidents.”
Ross believed in the potential of people. He reminded his audience that failure isn’t final — it’s just part of the process.
On Creativity and Freedom
“You can do anything you want. This is your world.”
Ross offered empowering wisdom, useful whether you are holding a paintbrush or making a life decision.
On Embracing the Journey
“Talent is a pursued interest. Anything that you’re willing to practice, you can do.”
Bob didn’t believe in natural-born artists — he believed in people who kept going and kept trying.
On Peace and Presence
“Go out on a limb — that’s where the fruit is.”
He wasn’t simply a painter teaching technique. Ross was an encouraging and bold presence.
On Compassion and Connection
“I really believe that if you practice enough, you could paint the ‘Mona Lisa’ with a two-inch brush.”
Ross saw greatness in people — not in perfection, but in persistence and belief.
On Simplicity and Joy
“It’s so important to do something every day that will make you happy.”
Bob Ross painted joy, not just on the canvas, but in the everyday, little things. An immensely private man, Bob Ross ended every episode with “God Bless,” although he didn’t affiliate with any organized form of religion. He died from complications from lymphoma at age 52, on July 4, 1995. According to his mother, Cedella, his final words were:“Jesus, take me.”
Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
Romans 12:18 NLT
In my thinking, we could use a little more Bob Ross in our world. Life is hard and challenging. Hearing an uplifting voice cheer you on can make a world of difference.
Mom taught me that success in life starts with trying. Don’t be afraid to try new things. It’s how you grow!
Thanks for reading. Feel free to drop a comment below.
Praying you live well and love well.
Until my next post…
Be salty, stay lit.
Rainer Bantau —The Devotional Guy™
#bgbg2#BibleGateway
The Stigma Stops Here.🛑
#mentalhealthmatters
The Devotional Guy™ 
That’s great! And encouraging. Thanks! 🙏
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Namaste 🙏 to your sweet momma as well! You’re so welcome! I love what I e read so far!
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😀
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No worries. Typos happen. Believe me—I understand. 😃
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Sigh…that’s 20 years not 20 minutes. 🙂
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Amen 🙏 Thanks for making that observation Judy. I appreciate that you took the time to read my post and comment on it. Blessings 🙏
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It’s my pleasure, Richard. He definitely exemplified grace and peace in his demeanor. Thanks for reading and commenting. Blessings 🙏
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A living testimony that a person can also choose a different path. I love knowing he was a drill sergeant, serving in the Air Force for 20 minutes. He didn’t make a big deal of his change; he simply stepped onto a different path.
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Rainer, thank you for blessing us with the encouragement of Bob Ross. While no visual artist myself, Bob Ross captured my interest more than a few times. His show offered a welcome dose of grace mixed with peace.
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Amen 🙏 he’s definitely a man who left a great legacy. Not loud, not preachy. Simply generous and kind. Thanks for reading and dropping a comment! Blessings.
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I love Bob Ross! Thank you for sharing his wisdom and his testimony, what a blessing!
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Ha! Thanks for catching that typo! I love where your mind went with this thought. Stitching myself together is certainly a present theme in my life. Indeed, the Spirit is patiently and steadfastly working to put me back together. I’m grateful for that, as I am grateful for my Mom’s lesson of having the courage to get up and make an attempt at something, even if it seems beyond our reach at the moment. You never know until you try.
Thanks so much for subscribing to my blog, reading my post, and taking a moment to drop a comment. It means a lot. Many blessings today 🙏!
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How cool is that, Alan? I’m glad his memory traveled the globe and we were able to collectively reminisce. He is an interesting man, for sure. There is an entire TV channel here in the States that shows “Joy of Painting” 24/7. I am grateful you stopped by to read my post and drop a comment. Many blessings to you as well. 🙏
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“Mom taught me that success in life starts with tying.”
I KNOW you meant “trying” but literally…
Wow – what a beautiful “typo.”
Maybe it was Spirit speaking louder than spellcheck?💫
Because yes, success does start with trying… but maybe it also starts with tying –
tying loose ends –
tying broken threads of positive thinking 🤔 and speaking back together –
tying knots – in places where life has come “undone”
Sometimes we’re not just reaching for greatness – we’re literally maybe “stitching”ourselves back into the fabric of something sacred.
“Trying”, yes.
But “tying”… that’s the holy work. 🪡🕊️
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This is very timely Rainer, a dear sister in Christ and I were just talking about Bob Ross on Sunday. He truly was a beautiful guy with an amazing talent. We can learn a lot as believers from Bob. God bless you and Terri today brother Rainer 🙏
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