Eyes of Courage

This lion’s gaze reflects strength and dignity, symbolizing the courage to stand firm in truth and faith. Created with a rich blend of acrylic paint, coffee, limestone powder, and sand, each layer adds depth and texture to its powerful presence.
 
This excerpt from The Chronicles of Narnia" captures my heart for this painting:
"Edmund stood looking into the piercing eyes of the Great Lion for what might have been hours. Perhaps it had only taken minutes, or perhaps all of time, but he did not think he would ever want to leave Him. Neither of them had said anything aloud (at least, Edmund did not think they had), but Aslan could see down to the very bottom of his soul.
This had frightened Edmund at first, and then startled him, and then given him the deepest sort of peace he had ever known. He had apologized over and over in the beginning, when he had first been taken to Aslan; he had recognized Him at once (he knew not how), and had fallen at His feet and cried mercy for an hour, refusing to look up into His eyes until he felt a velvet paw atop his shoulder.
At first Edmund had shrunk down lower, fear and self-loathing making him feel unworthy to even look upon His face. But the Lion's touch had been enough to allow something besides the sorrow and guilt and pain and madness to break into Edmund's mind, and he distinctly heard his name spoken, though not in words. He looked up in shock.
He thought perhaps Aslan might kill him, and there was a terrible moment when he hoped He would; Edmund knew he deserved it. He only wanted the Lion to know how sorry he was, and to save his family, if there was yet any chance of that. But Aslan looked upon him with greater love than Edmund had known existed. 
The boy trembled and cried and wailed, and he wanted very badly to run from those terrible eyes, but he was frozen in place, and he could not look away. He wished the Lion would not look at him so kindly, and he felt so wretched that he was unable to speak. It did not seem to matter. Aslan let him clutch at his fur and bury his face in His Lion's mane until his misery was spent, and then He stood him up and led him out to the hilltop. There he searched Edmund's heart and mind and soul, and though at first He was very severe, He was never cruel or unjust. Edmund looked into His eyes the whole time this was going on, and when He was done He smiled. I forgive you, Edmund."