The sign has flags of the 5 scandinavian countries
The story of the Swedish sign hanging over the door of Söderlund Village Drug
In November of 2003 I felt lead to have a sign painted to hang over the door of Söderlund Village Drug. I had Karen Giesler, a Saint Peter artist and sign painter, design and paint this sign. The purpose of the sign was to bless the people that came into the drugstore.
Karen Giesler designed and painted the Swedish blessing sign
Karen Giesler Was the Artist
I approached Karen Giesler and explained the situation. She was amazed because she had been feeling called to do some Christian artistry and was searching for an opportunity. So the sign was commissioned.
Karen painted the five Scandinavian flags on the blessing sign. From left to right they are Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. They are all countries that have the cross as part of their national emblem.
Karen Giesler places the Swedish blessing onto the sign
Work Progressed
I knew the sign was to be written in Swedish and I was quite unable to translate the blessing so I asked my friend Anders Bjorling, owner of the Swedish Kontur Imports store, to translate. I gave Anders the English version and he came back with a perfect Swedish translation. The blessing says, “Oh God, the giver of life, bless all who enter here with life, health and prosperity, amen.”
The image of my parents Bill and Joan Soderlund
Honoring Those That Left Their Legacy
So after Anders Bjorling gave me the translation I gave it to Karen Giesler to perform her artistry. Additionally I needed to place two images on the sign. One image was to be of my great-great Aunt Lina Soderlund and the other was to be of my parents Bill and Joan Soderlund. The thought behind this was from the Ten Commandments, which says to “honor your father and mother”. By placing their images upon the sign I felt it would be an honor to them and the legacy they have left to me.
Lina Söderlund was the first pharmacist in the family
Lina Söderlund Began the Pharmacy Legacy
My great-great Aunt Lina Söderlund was born in 1879 and was the first pharmacist in the Soderlund family. I had the privilege of knowing her for several years before she went to be with the LORD. Her image was placed on the sign to honor her life and the legacy she left to our family.
Karen Giesler and my wife Beth Soderlund
The Finishing Touches
Karen Giesler did a fabulous job of designing, creating and painting the sign. My wife, Beth Soderlund, and I went to her studio a couple of times to see the work in progress. I must say that I really felt the Presence while looking upon her work.
Pastor Greg Stone and the congregation pray over the sign
The Church Prayed Over the Sign
After Karen Giesler finished the sign I brought it to Sunrise Assembly of God in Saint Peter to have the church pray over it. Pastor Greg Stone and the members of the congregation prayed over the sign to impart a blessing to it. Karen and her husband Leroy Giesler were also present and prayed over the sign. Dick Kunst and Lee Hendrycks helped by holding the sign while the church prayed over it.
Look for the permanent home of the Swedish blessing sign
The Sign Gets Its Permanent Home Over The Door Of Söderlund Village Drug
Later that same day, April 4th, 2004, Karen and Leroy Giesler hung the sign over the door of the drugstore. From that day on the sign has hung over the door of Söderlund Village Drug asking God to bless all that enter!
“Oh God, the giver of life, bless all who enter here with life, health and prosperity, amen.”