Encouragement

Ponder.
Mary pondered all these things in her heart. Eventually “these things” became part of our collective story as Christians. And Mary pondered them. Deeply thinking. As she went to live with one of the disciples I can see Mary nurturing and encouraging the disciples and living the life that Jesus taught.
2 Corinthians 7: 6 & 7 – But God, who encourages the downcast, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus, and not only by his arrival but also by the encouragement with which he was encouraged in regard to you, as he told us of your yearning, your lament, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.
As I replied to someone this morning asking a serious question regarding “how to get in to the biz” I thought about/pondered my own journey. I shared some of that here. I can not express my gratitude enough to the quilters who have influenced and informed my journey along the way. And I’ve listened. Then exercised the option of taking their advice or going in a different direction.
When I offer suggestions either on a quilt or how a quilter can pursue a career in quilting or develop her business. Not to sound callous but I don’t care if that quilter takes my advice. If what I offer resonates and works great! If what I offer allows the quilter to rule that out as an option, Great! Both are valuable. Both are needed. And I’ve given that quilter something important: encouragement and the freedom to go down the path of their choosing. Even the one quilter I told to jump on an opportunity because I KNOW it would be amazing for the career – if that person decided to go in a different direction I would respect and honor that choice. Ultimately the quilter has to do what they love. I can only show the “notions I have in my sewing basket” and “show them how I use them”. It is then up to the quilter to use the tools and with practice develop the skill for using them. As the skills develop so do the opportunities.
We gotta work at it.
We gotta teach
We gotta encourage one another
We gotta nurture others
And let them fly.
Happy Quilting & God bless!

Teri