GIVING PAUSE

This from D'v:

The reason that we have to think and ponder before the Lord everything we stitch is because, as you are discovering,  everything takes a piece of us.

Every project, every vision stitched, every revelation revealed and unveiled  though the work of our hands as ordained of Adonai, takes time, which belongs to Him, and resources, which are His. But more it takes us. It takes who are in Messiah and spills it out for His sake, for His glory. We are, in this holy work, for so it is, poured out for His sake and for the sake of those to whom He is revealing Himself in these His holy works.

You are learning now, on a very steep curve I think, but we must all make no mistake. It is a holy work, this work of our woman's hands. An offering to Him who both created and redeemed us and set us under His holy shelter.

Behold behold behold.

"I AM LORD." says He.  "BEHOLD AND LOOK UPON ME WITH AWE AND TREMBLING.

"BEHOLD."

End of message. 

My response:

Seriously~~~ this is HARD! At least for me, and in every aspect!

That said, I got the borrowed Singer up and threaded, bobbin wound and inserted, and tested a few rows of stitches on a scrap. All set for the morning!

D'V:

Am glad. It is a new thing for you. And it is hard to learn something completely new. It's not like you had a foundation in sewing to lean on.  It'll all click.It has to. I don't know what the Lord plans but I'm hoping you can show me how to use a sewing machine.

Me:

Be glad to! A little more confidence AND practice. My husband is SO proud of me! That part of this whole thing is interesting.... and fun. He's always romantic, as you know (except when he's angry & snitty of course) and always proud of me in a general way-- but this is so specific a thing for him to be proud of! Last evening when he was talking to his sister for their weekly telephone check-in, he was telling her all about what I was doing--- from his perspective. Cutting & pinning & measuring and stitching....

I do waste some time wondering WHY God has put this on me NOW..... but between you and me, it's an urgent thing to trust and obey about this. Forgive me if I repeat myself over and over, but usually nudges to me are about service, not about doing something that may be useless --- or not, depending on what is made and how it comes out --- and that may have an aspect of personal satisfaction and possibly even--dare I say it? --- FUN. Or at least people appear to have fun and when the anxiety of new gets left behind, maybe it will be for me?

D'v:

Of course it will be fun you silly!

I hate to state the obvious but if you are doing it out of obedience, trust and love, that is service to HIM. 

Long time ago He told me that He misses His daughters. Their tenderness, the way they love on Him. He misses us. This is a gift from your Father who wants to bless you.  That He will use it for His purposes is a blessing. That it is a joy, and it will be, is the mercy that makes the work of it more like play. 

HOW MY STITCHING BEGAN

THIS IS HOW IT CAME ABOUT:

Because she was facing cancer & surgery which was very agressive and very serious, my birth mother, whom I met fourteen years ago, and with whom I have become good friends, told me she has been  thinking about her LEGACY. And talking with all her children, including  me. This was in the spring of 2013.

She won't have money or property to leave. She'd like to leave some of her knowledge & skills, and her greatest skill is quilting. She asked me  if I'd like to learn, that she could leave that as a legacy to me. I talked to her about not liking sewing & attempts made while at the Haven of Grace, where I lived and worked for a time, in Woonsocket RI, where sewing was a required activity. About not having good eye-hand coordination  and low frustration levels. We talked it through, and came to the conclusion....... that we will TRY. She will try to teach and I will try to learn.

So once she had some recovery and knew her treatment plan..... we made plans for me to go out there--- alone (as there was NOTHING for my husband to do there while we're engaged, and if home he can go see his kids & granddaughter & do some of his volunteer work).... on weekends and start the process.

Handiwork here I come! We're looking at patterns for small and easy baby quilts for Nug. And just WHO is Nug? My first grandchild, expected in December!!!

THIS WAS MY GOOD FRIEND D'V'S REPLY TO THIS: 

What a gift!  And even if you have not had the right  coordination in the past ask the Lord and look for His provision. This is the time of those gifts being birthed. There have been and are many gifts hidden in His daughters and they include handiwork. Am so excited for you!