There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love.
~1 John 4:18 (ASV)~
There are all kinds of opportunities in life to practice stepping out even when nervous, even afraid. Faith is stepping even if afraid, fear is going backwards… limiting and restricting yourself.
This was a week of DIYs. For the first time in years I got out my sewing machine… which I have only used a handful of times since I got it over ten years ago. This was a big step for me as I have had a very defeatist view of my relationship with sewing machines. One melt down and a call to both my mom and mother in law and I was well underway to finishing my first project!
Every year at this time the stores decide winter is over and stop carrying mittens… reality is winter is still here for a long time thanks to where I live and so the fact that my kids always seem to wear out or loose all their mittens right around this time of year has been an annual frustration. Enter my first attempt at trying to do it myself in the area of clothing needs. The internet is a wonder! I was able to look up the cheapest and easiest ways to make mittens and discovered a new level of thriftiness where one recycles unused clothing into what you actually need. Who hasn’t shrunk a real wool sweater? A friend gifted me two old shrunk wool sweaters and I was set to give this a go.
Decided there was no way to fail since this was costing me almost nothing and the kids could wear them even if they were pretty strange. Took me most of the week but I got 4 sets of mittens out of one old sweater! I was pleased with my results so I went on to decorate them each differently to each of my kids preferences. In the end my kids really liked their mittens and felt it was very cool that their mom made them.
I find the more I limit myself the more I fear trying things and that leads to needing to limit myself even more to feel comfortable. Confidence isn’t a personality trait or a feeling, it is how we decide to conduct ourselves. Courage is being afraid but not being controlled or STOPPED by that fear. I find more and more that being transformed in Christ is beneficial DAILY and transcends every aspect of my life. I am encouraged that with this extra time on my hands during the day I can be very effective and fulfilled by being willing to step out and try more. I am ridiculously thankful for the time and energy I have after years of only imagining this!
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
~2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)~
If TODAY you could pick up any hobby with the confidence and time to get good at it what would it be?
TTFN
Always Lady Mac an Rothaich
