Monday, December 17, 2012

Stress Points


My most prized 'possession' is my embroidery/sewing machine.  I love what it can do .
I have been making some lace projects for Christmas gifts and I noticed that most designs have a stress point. That is, a weak spot in the design that the needle struggles to move over smoothly.  The needle will  bunch the thread under the presser foot, or tear away the backing or get stuck in one spot.   It is here that the project can be destroyed.
The stress points only show up in the process of working the design and are different in every design.  If I am watching I can prevent my work from being marred or spoiled.  I can stop and restart the needle,  I can add another layer of stabalizer , I can add some finger pressure to help guide the needle over the stress point.   If I have walked away or do not act quickly my project will be ruined.

I was sitting watching the machine work a design, anticipating the stress point coming up and my mind wandered to thinking about how we all have stress points in our life.
Each of us has a unique design of life pattern and in this 'pattern' we also have individual stress points.
For some a stress point may be a character weakness -  a quick temper or impatience.
For others it is a sudden change of plans in a day, or an unexpected delay.
It may be a season of grief or pain or suffering sickness or an accident.
It may be a difficult relationship.
It may be the stress of a holiday, like Christmas, where we can become overwhelmed with the list of things to do and the extra expenses of gifts and celebrations.

It is at these stress points that our day or our life can be disrupted or destroyed.
If we are anticipating and watching, we can prevent any serious damage.
Sometimes we need to add a layer of prayer, sometimes we need to stop and 'listen' and restart with God's Word,  sometimes we need the helping nudge of the Holy Spirit, or His enabling  to get us through the test or difficulty.

As I helped my machine slip over the stress point without a mar in my work, I was so thankful that I have Someone who sits and watches over me , to be ready to help at a time of need, always watching that His work in me will not be spoiled !

  "Now may the God of Peace...  make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."  Heb 13:20a,21

7 comments:

Thoughts on Life and Millinery. said...

Just so! Or maybe just sew?
I will remember your words at tangly/bunch stress points of life. It is amazing how a God time smooths out stress points and yet how often I fight the stress until it has me all tangled up.

Your machine is cool Julie!

Lovella ♥ said...

What a wonderful devotional Julie and I can see so easily through this how to avoid breaking under stress.
I'll always remember this example.

ellen b. said...

Beautiful Julie!

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Hello Julie, thank you for this lovely little lesson so apt for this season of the year. And your lace projects look very pretty....I like that sled!

Wishing you and yours a blessed Christmas.

Sara

Anneliese said...

Julie, this post was for me!
Thank you for that verse too.

Judy said...

Beautiful works of art, Julie...and beautiful words to remember!

Marg said...

What a wonderful post...So true about stress points...Often we just need to watch for the triggers and then slowly maneuver around them and let God's spirit do the rest.
I loved your beautiful art work that you created with your prize possession.