Kaitlynn found this rag yesterday that was on its last leg — even as far as rags go. But instead of seeing it as something destined for the trash can, she immediately realized she could design a purse out of it as the ripped off fabric section would work perfectly as a handle.
She got to work at once sewing it and then using marker to “paint” it. Once it was finished, she’s been proudly using it as a purse.
While her creativity never ceases to inspire me, but that wasn’t all that I took away from her rag purse project. It made me think how often in our lives there are messy broken pieces. Hard things. Struggles. Hurts. Failures.
We see these things and we want to just get rid of them and pretend they never existed. But often, it’s those very things that can shape us into a person of character.
I don’t know what the hard things in your life might be right now. But I know each of you has at least a few really difficult things you’re dealing with.
Don’t give up! You never know what those hardships might be preparing you for. But it might be something more beautiful than what you can imagine.
The Prudent Homemaker says
Oddly enough, it has been our difficult trials that have helped me turn from being pessimistic to being optimistic.
Sttruggling to provide enough for our needs for some many years has taught me a lot of things; I’ve become a better cook, I’ve learned to bake, I’ve become a better gardener, I’ve learned to use my time more wisely, I’ve taught my children more about giving than I would have otherwise, and I’ve learned to work harder. I’ve also seen the everyday blessings even in the midst of trials, reminding me that God still loves me. The trials help us grow; it is only through the refiner’s fire that we can become refined.
Crystal says
I love this. Thank you so much for sharing and for being an inspiration!
Stephanie S. says
What a beautiful post, and one that I definitely needed to read today. Over the past couple of years our family has dealt with one heartache after another – my husband was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer, our eighteen year old nephew passed away, my parents divorced after nearly thirty years of marriage, my husband’s Grandfather passed away, my husband was in the hospital with bacterial meningitis, our oldest son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, and my husband was off work for three months due to shoulder surgery. So, as you can see, we’ve had our share of hardships lately, and people ask me all the time how we manage to be at peace with all that’s happened. I tell them that no matter what the trial is, God always sends his blessings to see us through it. Even with my husband’s skin cancer diagnosis, we discovered how truly blessed we are after witnessing the people from our church and community band together to help by holding prayer vigils in our home, having fundraisers to raise money for our trips to Houston to see the oncologist, bringing us food when we were too busy and stressed to cook, lending a shoulder to cry on, and many offers to watch over our children and pets while we traveled back and forth to Houston. Although we were suffering, we knew it could always be worse, and that there were other people going through far worse trials than we were. By the grace of God my husband has been cancer-free for two years now, and if we learned anything, it’s too never take each other and our family for granted. We’re not promised our next breath, so always love unconditionally and with your whole heart. It might be hard to find a silver lining during hardships, but they’re there. You just have to look in the right place.
Karina says
Lewis is so wonderfully quoteable! Thank you for taking the time to post on big things born out of the small.
On a practical note- How did Kaitlynn learn to sew? I am toying with the idea of getting my child started and as a non-sewer myself, I wasn’t sure the best way to get a kindergartner started? Thoughts?
Crystal says
She learned mostly by watching me embroider. And then I’ve helped her a little. I’ve mostly just provided the needle, hoop, fabric, and thread and given a little guidance by teaching her how to thread the needle, basic stitches, etc.
I taught the girls how to make something like these recently (it just requires a very basic stitch) and the loved it: http://doodlecraft.blogspot.com/2012/10/fabric-flower-headbands.html — something like that is a fun project to start with.
Linda says
What a sweet and inspirational example.
So often we focus on the negative and keep beating ourselves up about our past and thinking we are damaged goods. I know I’ve done that most of my life, thinking how no one would want me because my body has been damaged by years of being overweight. I fear that I won’t be able to have children because I haven’t found a partner, I have chronic health issues, and my age. My biological clock has been ticking for a while…
I’ve been working hard for over a year; taking better care of myself, eating healthier and working out regularly. I’ve made a lot of progress, yet lately I’ve been feeling so low and unlovable that daily life has been a struggle.
Interestingly enough, yesterday I watched Joel Osteen’s program and he spoke about how all the experiences we go through are like ingredients in a recipe. The ingredients by themselves may not taste good, but you combine them and they make something delicious.
He gave chocolate chip cookies as an example, and how adding that little bit of baking powder (or was it soda?) makes such a huge difference. Yet, no one likes the taste of baking powder (soda) on its own. He explained how our struggles, illnesses, etc., are like those ingredients that help us become a better version of ourselves.
This message resonated with me and has made me look at my life in a different light.
Yes, terrible things have happened to me and I’ve made some decisions that I truly regret, but I know that God loves me and I am his child. Therefore, I am a work in progress and something beautiful will come out out of this broken mess I am right now.
Thank you for sharing this lovely example, Crystal. I pray that God continues to bless you.
Sue says
trying to type through tears it hard but I just want to say thank you those words where heart felt today 🙂 May God Bless you for all you do!
TJs Sweet Home says
Her purse is beautiful; so colorful & just right for Spring & Summer! It brought back sweet memories of my aunt teaching me to sew by hand when I was a little girl (:
(I don’t know what I keep doing wrong with my comments so if this duplicates, sorry)
TJs Sweet Home says
Her purse is beautiful! So colorful & just right for spring & summer! It brought back sweet memories of my aunt teaching me to sew by hand when I was a little girl.~TJ
Victoria says
Well said. I have had my share of struggles in this world and over the years I have come to the conclusion I can either get bitter and be infective to all those around me, or I can share what I learned along the way and reach out with empathy.
Mary says
Her purse is so cute; it’s so cool to see her work used to encourage people everywhere.
Something similar I heard on our Christian radio station is that compost is what makes soil incredibly fertile (in our case it’s the only thing that will get our hard Georgia clay soil to grow anything). But what is compost? It’s rotted garbage. The point was that even the garbage in our lives gets used to soften our hearts and help transform us into the image of Christ.
jennifer says
Thank you for this. Married and not always happy with partner, but while it’s so easy to blame the other person and stop there, I also find I am gaining tremendous insights into myself and human nature–insights I would never gain otherwise–insights that make me more compassionate, more understanding, wiser.
Also, while I am commenting, thank you in general for your blog, it is a daily must-read for me and you have changed me in many ways–so many things to take away–your blog is one of my blessings.
Hannah J says
Wow. How creative. And you are right. With hardships, we just want to pretend they aren’t there…but with God you can get through anything.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13
Check out my Christian Mommy Blog at:
dreamingofperfect.weebly.com
Lora C says
Wow!! This message could not have come at a more approriate time! I have been trying to encourage and support a young, single mom of 4 (a school aged child and 2 year old triplets). I was a struggling single parent so I know what she is going through–kind of–I only had 2 children. Today I remembered a very difficult financial time during those years of struggling. I had not thought about that time in years. I am sure that I purposely forgot it! But if I had not gone through that time, supporting this young mother might not be important to me. I am learning to be grateful for those hardships–they yeild many great things.
Crystal says
What an amazing blessing that you are reaching out to that mom! Thank you for blessing her — I just prayed that you’d be blessed abundantly in return.
Lora C says
Thank you!!!!
Lana says
A dear friend always says that when you are in the middle of a trial you should pray and ask God what you are to learn from the trial. I have found that He always answers.
Jo Lynn says
Cute purse :-)! What a creative girl you have there! I love that C.S Lewis quote and have seen in my own life how true it is, even as its still playing out. What I used to be in complete despair about I now see as an amazing unique gift I have been given and I am so excited to see how it all plays out. Definitely still face some challenges but I know and have seen that God is working everything out for good, and I believe that as life continues on it will be more beautiful than I ever allowed myself to imagine. Enjoyed this post!
Donna Gividen says
You are so right. It is in the hardest, darkest times that we most often draw closer to God as He draws us closer. It is in those times that the best lessons are learned if we are teachable. We would all rather have the rose garden, the mountain top but times in the valley are important to our spiritual lives, to our growth.
joyce says
reminds me of the quote: all sunshine and no rain makes a desert, not an oasis
Crystal says
What a great quote!
Heather says
I’ve been dealing with a hardship in my life (my weight) and this touched my heart today…I am not proud that I have lived in a state of limbo, but I know that fear and hard work has kept me from reaching my full potential. I need to keep going, pushing through the fear of losing my comfort (although it’s really not comfortable being in this body this size any longer), but it seems overwhelming. I will continue on my journey, step by step and I will think of your daughter’ purse as a way to reincarnate something broken into something special.
Jo Lynn says
I love the last line of your comment about reincarnating something broken into something special. That was beautifully worded and creates a really inspiring image. All the best to you as you journey through your hardship and come out on the other side with a powerful testimony.
Thiago daLuz says
Very true. Kintsukuroi: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kintsugi
An art and a philosophy, that things can become stronger and more beautiful for having been broken.
Crystal says
{Hugs!} You can do it — one step at a time. I’m cheering for your success!
Lora C says
I am dealing with weight issues too. It can seem overwhelming, but I know that you can do it. For me the weight didn’t come on over night so it won’t come off over night. It will probably take longer to come off than it did going on, but I have made up my mind that it will come off. If you need cheerleader(s) consider joining SparkPeople. Its a free weight loss website that I am a member of–it offers free information, calorie tracking, groups to join for whatever you are interested in, and your own place to blog about your journey. The best part is that it is totally free!! Be blessed on your weight loss journey!!
Chris says
This last line of your post is so beautiful and so true, Heather. We may not know why we have to endure some situations or relationships but it will all make sense in the end. As for me, I had a hard time with my alcoholic mother and in my late twenties, I gave in and went to see a therapist (the best thing I’ve ever done so far). Now, a few years later, I see people around me struggle with difficult situations and they have to learn now what I learned years ago. So I guess we’re all in the same boat, some people have to learn how to deal with difficult situations earlier than others but we are all in it together.