Unhealthy Affairs, Wreath Wrasslin’, and the Creative Process

It’s two weeks until Halloween, and I finally started my Christmas decorations. I always decorated this early even before stores started the practice of setting out Christmas items on Labor Day. I love Christmas!

Several weeks ago, I fell in at Hobby Lobby. For years, I have had an unhealthy fascination with Hobby Lobby. Whenever we pass Hobby Lobby and Ronald is driving, I get to whinin’ and cryin’ if he doesn’t turn where I am frantically pointing. I have ruined many fiscal good intentions at this store as I find another fun project that I may or may not finish.

This is a bunny trail. I have suggested to many HB managers that their sales would explode with one simple remodel of each store. If they added a men’s sitting area with a large screen TV playing ESPN, women would have the freedom and time to shop without harassment. The man cave should be placed in the back area out of site of the cash register and the exit, and women over America would rejoice.

Back to my point.

I decided this particular day to get a big wreath to hang over the fireplace. Stephanie and Missy were with me as I tried to choose ornaments and other fluffery to add to the greenery. All my other Christmas decorations are blue and green, so this would work.

Finding a convenient place to work with that large an item took creativity of its own. Cleaning up the mess when I dropped a glass ball which shattered and spewed clear across the tile-floored room stole some of my patience that was needed for the actual creation of the wreath. I wreath wrestled that joker for three days! (or wrassled as I say it)

However, I have stressed over the creative process since I purchased the materials. No joke – I worried over the entire process, hoping that everyone would approve of my creative display. Like the books and blogs I write, I fuss and redo, rethink and delete. But double-ding-dang! Also like the books and blogs, it only matters what I think about my creative results! There is no need to stress about what others will think! Other than God, of course.

That being said, the wreath is a work in progress. I poked and prodded a few of the ribbons into a different position before I took the picture this morning. I am still not happy with the hanger and will add some more stuff when Ronald pulls some of the boxes of ornaments from the storage unit today. The Swedish Death Purge will be challenged as I sort through more Christmas treasures.

Preachin’ Alert

God says He is the potter and believers are the clay. Unlike my broken ornament, God can put the most broken among us back together. He pokes, prods, prunes, and perfects us until we are ready for our heavenly home. Our remolding may be uncomfortable at times, but God has the perfect image of each one of us planned from the beginning of time. I think I like the idea of Him being my Creative Designer.

Ephesians 2:10 says we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God ordained that we should walk in them.

God’s got a plan for me. Sounds good, eh?

Blessing