I Could Make That! | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: I Could Make That! | Previous Challenge Entry
By RuthAnn Cornelson
02/12/07
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Oh good, another craft show. Can I go, please? Can I go and look at all those amazing things that people have slaved over for hours, just to put them in a booth and have others oooo and aaaah, and then secretly look at each other, whispering, “We don’t need to buy that. We can make it ourselves.” Of course, they never will. They will go home and maybe get as far as the fabric store to buy some supplies and then put them in the “craft closet” so that they’ll have them ready when (if) the craft urge strikes. Of course, they could just come over to my craft closet and borrow some of my supplies for all those things I’ve been going to make myself, for a very long time now. Well, it never hurts to be ready, and I am.

You know who’s to blame for all this, don’t you? That amazing woman in Proverbs 31. She was the ultimate crafter. Take a look, “She finds wool and flax and busily spins it.(vs.13)” “Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber.(vs.19)) Ouch! “She quilts her own bedspreads.(22a)” I didn’t even know they used bedspreads! Have you ever been to a quilting show? Now that’s some gorgeous, tough stuff there. I never have said, “I could make that myself,” at a quilting show. Clearly, I could not. At some point you have to accept reality.

Now, what else does this amazing woman do? Oh, of course, “She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants.(24)” She doesn’t just make the belts, she makes the garments too! Of course that’s just when she’s not checking out a field, buying it and planting her own vineyard, as spoken about in verse 16. OK, I know what you’re thinking – “Well, they had to make all their own things back then.” You’re right. Now people do these things for fun! Good grief!

I have come to the conclusion that there is one thing the Proverbs 31 woman does that I can really identify with, “She watches for bargains”(18b). Yes! Now we’re talking. I am one of the great bargain hunters. You’ll find me out there at 4:30 AM the day after Thanksgiving, tapping on the store door, “open, open, open.” The way I see it, someone had to buy all those things Mrs. Proverbs 31 was making, and someone has to do the same for today’s crafters. That’s where I come in. You can get some good deals on quality items at craft shows. I have finally come to the place where I recognize that I’m not really going to make all those things I’m so sure I could, so I’ll do my part by buying them. Economics, plain and simple; some makes ‘em and some buys ‘em. I’m the buying one.

As amazing as this Proverbs 31 woman was with all her crafts, she is noted also for her kindness, generosity and wisdom. She didn’t just use her talents for herself. “She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.(20)” “When she speaks, her words are wise, and kindness is the rule when she gives instructions.(26)” And even more than that, the very bottom line here is, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.(30)” So, whether we’re good at making crafts, or just like to buy them, we can all strive to be like this woman in our attitudes and relationships to others and especially to Him, who gives us each our unique and important talents.

(All verses quoted from the New Living Translation)

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