Willing Hands
Proverbs 31:13 ~
She selects wool and flax and works with willing hands.
As many of you know, I've gone back and forth with my sewing business for the past few years, especially as I've struggled to figure out how it fits in with my ministry. I've decided at times that I'm going to stop doing it altogether, but then feel the desire to get back to it again and have picked it back up.
Lately, I've landed on the knowledge that there may be times during the year when I have to put it on hold a bit while I'm focusing on ministry-related activities. But rather than close it down altogether, I know that there will be some months when I just won't be sewing as much.
As Dan and I have talked, we know that something needs to change in our financial situation. Things are always tight, but this has been one of the worst years we have had and we do need to think about our future, as well as Nathan's. So the idea has been thrown out there about me going out and getting a full time job since Dan is pretty much topped out at how much he can make.
However, I sat down and looked at my business finances the other day and given the fact that for 6 months out of 2018 I wasn't sewing or selling at all, I made a fairly good amount of money even though it was only a craft fair here or there. So as we have chatted about it, I thought if I actually put in some more effort, I could do really well.
And the reality is at this point I have two choices. I either put energy and time into something I love doing that will allow me to be flexible and take the days off I need for ministry events. Or else, I have to quit everything in order to work a full time 9-5, 40 hour per week job. I'm not sure it will work or not, but my hands are willing to try. And if it doesn't work then the other alternative will just have to be the way I go.
As I've been praying for God to open up doors, He plopped something in my lap. A woman who purchased my coffee cup sleeves as gifts, sent me an email a few weeks ago to say she showed them to the purchasing agent of a hospital gift shop. And long story short, the purchasing agent is placing an order of items for the shop!
I do believe that God uses all our experiences to weave them into a tapestry. He has taken my love of writing, sewing, cooking and baking, and ministry and is weaving them together. I can't see the end result yet, but the picture is getting clearer to me.
I'm going to be pursuing our regional market which is open year round to see about participating in that. During the winter it's Thursdays only but during the rest of the season it is on Thursdays and Saturdays. Hundreds come through that each week and it would be a good place to sell my breads and jams, along with my handmade items. I have a certificate from the Department of Agriculture, giving me permission to sell breads, jams and pies without having a certified kitchen, and I have purchased insurance for this year already so I could basically start as soon as possible.
It'll be interesting to see how it all pans out. I'd love it if you would pray that I find favor in these endeavors, and make enough to help pay the bills. I've been able to contribute financially in some things, but I'd like to be able to take more of that burden off my husband.
Now I need to get going and start sewing!
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