Ugly Bow Failures

My friend, Marjorie, was one talented lady. She set a wonderful example for me in so many ways.

Yet, in so many ways I could not get what she tried to teach me!

When she and her family moved from California to Illinois, I was introduced to ‘classy entertaining’. She and her husband were the leaders of our youth group when I started helping with various banquets she would plan. Her California mindset of fresh fruit and vegetables was foreign to this naïve, clueless ‘Marjorie wannabe’. Her layered party loaf was always perfect. As many times as I tried to duplicate the recipe, mine either fell over on its side or tasted funny. No one could do it as well as Marjorie.

She planned and pulled off bridal and baby showers and banquets with panache unseen by few in our area. Each gala was unique and special. For years and years she wowed us with her creativity.

Marjorie was a champion bow maker!!! Whether the bow was a tiny, three-quarter inch bow or a three-foot monster bow, she could make every one a work of art! We would be working on party decorations, and I would end up with one lop-sided bow to her five perfectly shaped and fluffed masterpieces.

I can truthfully say I have kept trying, but I have yet to make a bow like Marjorie did. I would say maybe someday, but that is a miracle I don’t want to waste my prayers on. Why ruin my record? It is a claim to fame for me at this point. KB-the world’s worst bow maker! Or how about making a business and selling ‘The Ugliest Bows in the Universe!?!?!? With all the junk catalogs we get in the mail this time of year, maybe there could be a market for it. It could become a money-making gimmick of the century!

Speaking of ugly failures! Here’s one for you.

I’ll tell a sad part of the Christmas story that is usually glossed over before I tell some Good News.

Herod was known for his cruelty and jealousy. When the confused Magi told Herod of One who would become the King of the Jews, Herod checked out their story with Israel’s religious leadership. He asked the Magi to find the baby and report back to him so he could go worship the object of the Magi’s search. What a liar!

After the wise men worshipped Jesus, they were warned to go home without reporting to Herod. When he found out he was duped, he killed all the boys in Bethlehem under age two. Herod the Great wasn’t so great after all! He was a wicked man who continued to reject God. A total failure!

I may be a failure at bow making, but long ago I did something right! I made my heart right with the Good Lord by asking Him to be King of my life. Like Joshua in the Old Testament, I’m going to do my best to choose this day and every day to serve the Lord!

Oh, yes, I will make mistakes in my living for Christ. Like Romans 3 says, we all sin and come short of the glory of God. But I love sin’s remedy in Psalm 86:5 TLB. ‘O Lord, You are so good and kind, so ready to forgive, so full of mercy for all who ask Your aid.’

How’s that for some Good News?

Blessings,

KB