Proverbs 22:29 Wise Words #5
Today’s words are about taking pride in your work. Not pride as in arrogant but as in giving it your BEST efforts. Practice makes perfect and that brings notice.
It is interesting that this is the topic of today. I have been VERY bust over the last month or so with sewing clothing for my grandchildren. Before that it was quilts for my children. I have handwork and one vest left to finish for Christmas (day after tomorrow). All this practice is improving my skills. I am NOT a master craftsman but I like to think I turn out quality work. It has been noticed by others too. NEVER to the degree of a king, unless you count MY King, Jesus.
There have been MANY moments during this process that I am frustrated by something and I ask God to help. He is never far from my thought and I find myself talking with Him in small prayers. The one that happens the most is when trying to thread needles. My eyesight leaves a lot to be desired and it makes this task a lot harder than it should be. But He sustains me during those frustrating moments. Sometime, right after I send up a SOS, He answers with exactly what I needed. Sometimes I struggle a little longer but I find comfort in that struggle after I make my request. He has also given me confidence in what I’m doing and insight (along with YouTube) on several tasks.
Something my mother told me often, and her mother told her; “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.” I would say this piece of advice agrees a lot with the wise words we are reading today. NO ONE is perfect at anything the first time. It takes practice and that practice needs to be focused for your skills to improve.
It also takes doing something you enjoy for you to become truly skilled in a craft. I will never be an artist with sketching or painting. They are ok but not where my heart lies. Sewing and quilting are. I thoroughly enjoy creating something physical, as I did when I made my Christmas villages. Twisting the wire into trees and arranging the towns; even repeatedly drilling tiny holes and inserting toothpicks to create fencing. Writing and expressing my thoughts in poetry or unique presentations is another ‘craft’ I enjoy.
In ALL these things, I find time to talk with God. Sometimes it is singing songs of praise. Sometimes it’s calling out for help with a troubling task. It makes my task more enjoyable when He is in on it. That’s when I want to do my VERY best. To make Him proud of me. If I am elevated in the eyes of ‘kings’, I want it to be because HE helped me reach that point.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24). It is also the Lord who gave you that talents to begin with. Give Him the glory and He will raise you up.
Father God, thank You for giving me talents. For letting me practice them. Thank You for helping me improve them also. I don’t want to stand before kings. I want to please my family with the gifts I give them though. That, and Your approval, is all the ‘elevation’ I need.
Thank You Father for giving me new ideas too. For keeping my creative spirit engaged. And for the resources to indulge them. Along with a husband who usually encourages me. Don’t let me get so involved in creating that I forget those whom I’m creating for. Let the relationship ALWAYS come first. ESPECIALLY OUR relationship. Thank You for drawing me to Your lap today. Even though my day was very out of order, You STILL found a time for us.
