Imperfections

Monday, November 14, 2022

Going to the County Fairs in Washington for ministry is a great joy and passion for us. We love to tell the children, teens and adults who come about the Lord Jesus Christ. During breaks from the Story Barn, we enjoy looking at all the different displays, especially the barn/building that holds all the quilts. Mom Dekle sews incredible quilts more beautiful than many that are submitted at the fair but we enjoy looking all the same. She should submit one of her masterpieces, but she won’t.

Mom has been trying to teach me how to sew a quilt. We have done several together. Nonetheless, sewing a quilt for the first time all by myself has proven to be a far greater challenge than I ever imagined. After many days of hair pulling frustration and the deep desire to throw the sewing machine out the door (it would have more impact than throwing my quilt out the door!), the quilt is finished. Definitely not perfect, but finished. And though I, at one time thought it possible, my quilt definitely isn’t “County Fair” quality, even for a beginner.

Now I think I understand why mom won’t submit her quilts to shows. She knows all about the imperfections.

As I started this project, I thought I could submit this quilt, my very first quilt done from beginning to end by me alone. No outside help at all, besides a little advice here and there. Now that it’s done, I definitely won’t. I love my quilt. But I see all the imperfections, and believe me, there are lots of them.

All my life sewing by hand has always been easier than using a machine. I was never good on the machine as a teen. My dyslexia didn’t help. Ripping out seems was more of an activity than getting things right. So, for years, sewing was not for me. If I wanted something sewn, I did it by hand. Including curtains!

Then mom Dekle came into my life. How can you not sew when your mother-in-law’s passion and gift is sewing? Staying with them for part of the year, I can’t not sew, not if I want to spend time with her and her passion. I have learned so much from her. There is even enjoyment in doing little projects, as imperfect as they turn out. Each one is a great accomplishment.

Imperfections. Not only was my quilt riddled with them, but so am I. I often feel like the Apostle Paul, where he said, “…I don’t understand why I act the way I do. I don’t do what I know is right. I do the things I hate” (Roman 7:15 CEV). Why is that? Paul goes on to explain it is because of sin. And we are all guilty of it (Romans 3:23). Paul’s reaction to that acknowledgement is found in verse 24 of Romans 7: “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Who indeed? He gives that answer in the next verse where he says, “I thank God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Jesus Christ, the One who sacrificially paid a debt we could never pay when He died on the cross for our sins. His resurrection is proof, He has the power and authority to forgive any who put their trust in Him. Not only that, He is someone who sees us not just for who we are but also for who we can be. Philippians 1:6 says, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” He began the work when we trusted Him. We can be confident He will continue the work in us until we see Him face to face.

Many claim to know Christ Jesus who do not really know Him. The Bible is clear about this. 1 John 2:4-5 says, “He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.”

Do you know Him? If you do, remember the world may see all our imperfections and judge us, but not our Heavenly Father. We have an Advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1), who is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our Intercessor and Helper. We are not alone. It doesn’t matter what the world thinks about us, what matters is what God thinks.

Be encouraged today.

Blessings, Mari