just stay calm

The other day I felt like I had gotten through a good number of things on my list. I felt like I was actually ahead on a few things. I felt like I could take a breath. So I did.

I pulled out the diamonds that I'm basting to put together the mother of English paper piecing projects. (Over 1700 diamonds!) I happily stitched and enjoyed the colors and imagined them all going together. It was a calm and pleasant evening.



Then the next day came.

Suddenly I realized that all those things I thought were done or progressing nicely were, in fact, barely the tip of the iceberg. How had I forgotten about this deadline or that? I wasn't ahead...I was simply further behind than I first thought.

I headed for meltdown.

But I thought about a conversation I had just the day before. I joked (in all seriousness) about the times that I curl up in a ball crying over this work that I love so much. The person, whom I had never even met, told me that it was good that I have a foundation that gets me through those stressful times.

She was right. And it was just what I needed to hear.

Thinking further on this, I remembered a verse that someone requested I make into an embroidery pattern. I looked it up in several translations of the Bible and was especially affirmed by these words: "The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm." (Exodus 14:14)



I sketched the words.

I pictured the "keep calm and carry on" posters, but of course, God's Word provides a reason for the calm. I can't say that the work is progressing, which would eliminate these feelings. I can't say that all meltdowns are gone. But I'm straining forward.



And you know what? I'm glad I paused to work on those diamonds. They were a moment of calm that I needed.

Friends (I can call you that, right?), life isn't all cute things with happy faces. I think it's important to acknowledge that, while embracing hope, playing with craft supplies, and trusting that the Lord himself will fight for you.