Sewing Patches and the Dangers of Perfectionism

Greetings in Christ!
I've been noticing that brother Tupos tunics are getting worn out in spots and getting some rips, so I had to do some mending.  I went to the store and bought a couple (fat quarter) fabric pieces for less than $1 each.

The brown one is quite a bit darker than the shirt but brother Tupos doesn't care, it's just clothing to cover the body.  (See a teaching on clothing being a sin covering HERE.)  I also didn't have a very good matching thread for the gray patches but brother Tupos doesn't care about that either.

I don't care about such things either and instead I'm thankful for fabric and thread, matching or not, to get the job done then to get on with what is most important...things that are eternal, not temporal.  

Gotta be careful not to let our flesh get wrapped up in things being perfect, like getting upset cuz you don't have matching thread or fabric.  Or the loaf of bread turned out a bit flat, or the fresh mopped floors got dirt on them already, or little hand prints on the clean windows, or weeds in the garden that grow faster than can be handled, or all those such temporal things that can distract us from the eternal.  It reminds me of a post I did on the old sisters blog, I'll post some of it here.

 From May 15, 2020

Greetings sisters in Christ!
As I was getting things ready for our departure, I was sewing some curtain / coverings for my shelves in the van and having troubles with the machine.  Well, as it was pointed out to me that it was operator error because I have no clue about the particular details on running the machine, all I do is step on the power pedal and go.  I would do well if I could sew a straight line but it escapes me.  I can't see straight, can't draw straight and certainly can't guide brother Tupos straight when he's trying to hook up a trailer.  (You can read how we took care of that HERE.)

It made me think of how we sisters are all different (I can't sew well and some of you can sew great :-) and need to be sure that we are not falling into the trap of perfectionism. I know God's Word says to do all things heartily unto Him (Colossians 3) but we should also be balanced lest we be stuck perfecting one thing and lose sight of all the rest.

I used to be a perfectionist in many areas of my life before I was born again and my outlook changed.  I used to do everything as perfect as I could for my own satisfaction, now I do all things for Christ yet do them in a way that I am freed up to perfect my walk and faith in Him, instead of focusing on things of this life.

Being a perfectionist can cause many issues in the home, especially when we hold others accountable to our standard and what satisfies us.  This can turn into a discouraging problem with children who try to reach that level of perfection and always fail.  Or that standard may be held over the husband (or others who may live with you) who don't feel the same way.  It can discourage us if we can't even meet our own expectations!  Some areas of concern are in keeping house, how you look, organization, gardens, yards, sewing, cooking, projects etc.

I'm not saying that us women should be careless, carefree and dirty but what we should be is balanced, especially when we have others in the house.  We all need to seek that level of balance in our own lives and allow others (children within reason) to determine theirs as well.

This mindset can carry over into judgement of others if we're not careful and our level of what is acceptable to us may be totally different than someone else's...that's what makes us all unique and adds to the body of Christ.

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
​1 Corinthians 12:13-27

Praise God we can have the freedom to be who we are in Christ, doing all things to the glory of God and encouraging one another on. 

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I would say the same things today, maybe more things even but I think we get the point. Balance is key and keeping our focus rightly pointed on Christ!

I also had to sew on some snaps and the first time I did it wrong lol.  (I like those snaps instead of the top button because some can be too tight.)  There's an example of making sure you have something right, the way it should be and it doesn't matter what it looks like, doesn't have to have perfect stitches as long as it holds.  

Anyway, just sharing some thoughts with you and I hope it adds some perspective to this life that seems to be so full of distractions coming at us from every direction, let's eliminate as many as we can. 

​The one thing you want to have perfect is the gospel, test yourself HERE. 

Love in Christ, 
Sister Aman 

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