Tie Dye

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement
Tie Dye

Who would have thought in February 2020 that by less than a year later, every catalogue and store would offer a selection of masks to buy? Many women have made a cottage industry out of making masks, using a wide array of fabric, styles, and colors. Tie-dyed ones have hit the home-made market. They make an interesting splash across one’s face. I tried my hand at making one and thought it was fun. The mask I tried to make was a red and green spiral for the Christmas season. Since it turned out with pastel colors more suitable for the Easter season, I’m pulling it our now. The one I hoped to look like red and white stripped candy canes, turned out pale and anemic. I might try a do-over to make it look less like someone spilled pink lemonade on white cloth. Fortunately, my bread and butter does not depend on my tie-dying ability!

Those results make me wonder what God thinks of our attempts to live the Christian life.
Does it sometimes seem as if our efforts are anemic or completely misdirected? But God is full of love and grace and is a good, good father to the people He created. Just as a parent wouldn’t demand perfect pronunciation from a toddler beginning to talk, God understands where we are struggling to walk close to Him and how we can better position ourselves for success. He knows what needs to change in order for us to reach a closer relationship to Him. He is able to send others along-side us to help when our Christian walk looks anemic, and we need a dose of encouragement. Easter is a good time to thank God for Jesus and His sacrifice to secure eternal life for us as well as well as second chances here on this earth today. God, look upon our efforts to walk in Your will. Forgive us for those times we fail and show us how to grow closer and closer to You. Thank you for this Easter season to reflect on Your amazing love.