Going for the Best Results

You know how we have so many cards these days, bank cards, membership cards. Our wallets are getting too full. So I decided to sew a card wallet for the cards I don’t use much but still want to carry around. Online I looked for inspiration and found one that I liked. I figured out my own measurements and starting cutting and sewing… only to find out I had made it the wrong way. And I was almost done. In the past I would have tossed it out the window. Now I put it aside.

I am a member of Facebook and in sewing groups people mention they have many WIP’s, Works in Progress. Things they never finished. One thing I have learnt over the years is to persevere. Like I said first I would either throw the project away or finish it in a sloppy manner. But using something, like a bag that I chose to finish quickly keeps bugging me. The regret of not having it done right is annoying. So we have a choice. I had a choice. Taking the time to finish a project properly gives much more joy than the disappointment of not finishing (poorly). It clogs the mind too.

So the next time I was facing this challenge I chose to put the WIP aside, not allowing the frustration to take over. I had it for instance with detailed quilts and with my winter coat which has many features. I would wait until I was calm and I felt like facing the challenge again. This could be a few hours to a few weeks. That is why I try not to have any harsh deadlines, that leaves me time to put a project aside. Then I pray for help, inspiration and peace and so was able to finish many nice projects.

By the way, every big project has parts you don’t like. Creating three big quilts out of clothing of a father with small children who died is a lot of work! Selecting and cutting that much fabric is a tedious job. But it had to be done. For moments like that I prepare myself. I get comfortable, put a movie on, get a drink and just start. It is all part of the process. It takes perseverance. And thinking of his young children getting a blanket from daddy’s clothes was going to make them happy. Who needs more incentive than that!

And too, I believe the joy that was given to me while working on these quilts was the joy of the Lord. I could feel that He was moved that I was willing to put the work and effort into making these. Also because I made them with the intention that the blankets would bring blessing to this family that so much needed it!

Just now I unpicked the wallet I started. I had pondered on it for a day and found it a waste of my precious quilt fabric and the work I had already put in it to throw it away. I came up with a solution to what I did wrong and so I will continue to finish it later ..when I feel like it.

So it is when we persevere in the challenges we face in our lives. God has a plan for our lives, we are being prepared, trained for the future as soldiers of His Kingdom. A custom made plan for each and every one of us; to fit perfectly to who we are as a person. The hard thing is that we don’t know what is ahead and how wonderful it all will be. That is the real perseverance. 

And so we just have to hold on. He gives the strength to do so, although some days seem nearly impossible.. at least so it feels. We may rest in Him knowing that not all is in vain. God only has the best things for us in mind.