My Friend Just Bought a Wedding Dress

My friend just bought a wedding dress. It's really pretty. We've laughed this week saying it's "swoonworthy". Really, it is perfect for a beach wedding and couldn't be more "her". You know, it just fits her personality. It has beautiful, delicate lace fashioned with a very light train that is sure to flow in the breeze of the ocean. She's found the one whom her soul loves, and has been giddy with excitement this week since finding "THE" dress.

But as beautiful as the dress is, it wasn't always such.

It started out in pieces.

I know a little, and I emphasize the word "little", about sewing. Growing up in the home of a seamstress, you pick it up along the way. Mom made her own wedding dress, and it started out in pieces too. She also made many things for us over the years and when people complimented something I was wearing, I was proud to tell them my mom made it. My friends were always amazed at what she had fashioned together.

Everything she made always started out with a pattern. A pattern usually comes with several options. You pick the option you want to sew and the pattern tells you which pieces you needed. All of the pieces are printed on a very large sheets of tissue like paper and you cut out each piece needed for that project. Cutting out the pieces was often my job.

After the pattern pieces are cut, they are placed on and pinned to the fabric, and then the fabric is cut to the pattern. We would cut each piece very carefully and stack them together, then Mom would do her thing, and start sewing. After a while, and maybe a few squabbles with the sewing machine, in which it would be called lots of unbecoming names, the garment emerged from a pile of thread, strings, pins, paper, and who knows what else. We would go try it on, and lanky and boney as we were, adjustments always had to be made. Take it up here, lengthen it there, and so on.

But eventually what was once merely pieces was fashioned into something that fit.

And something to be proud of.

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God ha been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:3-5

I don't particularly "exult" in my tribulations, friends, I'll just be honest. They are difficult. And sometimes they cut us into pieces.

"brings about" = Greek word 2716, "katergazomai", a verb meaning:

to work fully
accomplish
to cause


to fashion.

God knows what He wants to make from you and me.

He has the pattern - it's Himself.

My tribulations are evidence of His fashioning hands at work. His Presence. Yes, tribulations often cut me into pieces.

In pieces.

But every beautiful garment starts there.

And that is what we look to and exult in, sweet friend.

When others ask you, you will be proud to tell them God made it.

And they will be amazed at what His hands have fashioned.

XOXO


Linking up with Katie Orr as we wrap up her book Everyday Hope, a FOCUSed15 study. For more info, click here.

photo credit: lovelihood