The other day as I was driving, I saw an interesting slogan on an 18-wheeler. Of course, I couldn’t take a picture while I was driving, after all I advocate for highway safety! Blazoned across the trailer in huge letters the message said: “Stay the course – you will see them again.” All the way home, I thought about those words. I believe those words with all my heart. “Stay the course” is a fine phrase for everything good and worthwhile. While my mother did not say those exact words, she exhibited this kind of fidelity to her core beliefs and practices in life. My mother encouraged me to be true to the principles and virtues she hoped I would live. She wanted me to “stay the course.” My mother wasn’t perfect, no one is, but she tried to be the best she could be. The more I think about my mother’s values, the more I want to be like her. As a small child, I wanted to be just like her. I thought she was the most beautiful mother in the world. To me, she was loving, glamorous, and talented. She seemed to know everything.
It was important to my mother that our family matched as far as the most important values and standards in life such as love, kindness, respect, compassion, forgiveness, honesty, gratitude, responsibility, generosity, and much more. On a lighter note, on rare occasions she made us matching outfits. We loved it! It showed the world we belonged together. One year, she sewed us outfits for fourth of July. The fabric had red and blue fireworks-style starbursts on a white background. We wore them at the beach, for picnics, and to watch the 4th of July fireworks. My mother loved to sew. I loved to watch her sew. It seemed to me each garment she made was stitched together with love, much like our family was stitched together with love. I learned some rips, tears, and shreds in the fabric could be stitched back together with care and love. There are some important concepts in sewing. For one thing, in order to complete a garment, one must follow the directions and the pattern, as well as to “stay the course”.
I have my mother’s sewing machine, along with her sewing things. I don’t know what happened to her first sewing machine, but knowing her, she probably passed it along to someone who could use it, as it was still in good working order. She not only kept our home in good order, but she took care to maintain things like sewing machines. Now, I use my mother’s sewing machine, grateful she took the time to clean and oil it regularly. It still sews beautifully because she was devoted to “stay the course.”
The owner’s manual has some important information. The introduction asks the new owner to read the booklet’s instructions for the best sewing experience and to save money on needless, preventable repairs. There are important sections on setting up the sewing machine, how to properly control various tensions, as well as cleaning and maintenance. My mother was faithful in reading everything. She was faithful to follow the instructions for cleaning and maintenance. It’s why her sewing machine still works well.
After she died, I found this pattern in my mother’s things. I remember my mother carefully fitting and pinning the pieces to the pressed pale pink brocade fabric she and I had chosen. All the pattern pieces needed to fit on the fabric before cutting it. My mother believed in the adage of “waste not, want not.”
Of course, my mother was careful to get all the measurements before she bought a sewing pattern. While she took my measurements, my mother would remind me of the most important measurements: the measurements of a good character. She never missed an opportunity to make a life lesson come alive. She said it in a caring way. It made me want to be a better person. I was happy she cared so much.
It’s important to follow the instructions included in the pattern. The instructions show the various ways to efficiently lay out the pattern pieces on different widths of fabric, as well as which pieces to sew together and the order in which to sew them. If I don’t follow these directions, I may have a mess instead of a masterpiece.
It was important the pins were sharp so they wouldn’t tear the tissue paper or ruin the fabric as it pierced through the layers of delicate paper and cloth. Once all the pattern pieces were pinned exactly where they should be, it was time to carefully cut out the fabric pieces to make the garment. Significantly, the lines of the pattern pieces needed to be followed while cutting them or there would be a gap, and the whole project could be ruined. It was necessary to “stay the course.”
Sharp scissors are a must so the edges of the fabric are not ragged. Sometimes my mother used pinking shears, but those were also sharp. It’s easier to cut with a sharp instrument. Then it’s time to pin the pieces of fabric together according to the directions. Good, strong thread is important when sewing the garment pieces together. My mother usually sewed French seams. She reinforced the stress points by double or triple sewing over those areas so they wouldn’t tear. My mother wanted the garment to “stay the course.” Could it be I need reinforcements for my stress points?
I felt like a million dollars when I wore the finished dress to my special event. Later my mother wore the dress, too. It was well made. It lasted for many special occasions, including church. Sewing is a lot like life. If I follow the best directions, I will have a pretty good life. Sure, there will be some things to cut or pierce – it can hurt. But God can take those things and make something beautiful, good, and strong from it, if I let Him…if I “stay the course.”
The French curve was invented by a mathematician. It’s used for drafting or in fashion design. The French curve helps me make needed adjustments to make a pattern fit better. It smooths a curve, making it perfect. When life seems to have thrown me a curve, I’m reminded it can be smoothed and turned into something beautiful. I’m thankful for all the lessons my mother taught me just in this one area of life – sewing!
My parents gave me my first Bible when I was three and a half years old. It was a lovely cream hue. I remember sitting in church, leafing through the pages when the adults were looking up verses. This was before I could read, but I wanted to be like my mother. I loved to look at the pictures. My favorite was the color picture of David, the shepherd boy and Goliath, the soldier giant. My mother read this story to me and my brother often. She told us God could help us whenever we were facing giants: the giants of temptation, the giants of mean people, as well as any difficulty in life. My mother wanted us to “stay the course.”
It’s been many years since I used my childhood Bible. It was falling apart, and I got another Bible to use. I’m actually on my fourth Bible right now. It’s not because I’m careless with Bibles, but rather I read them so much. I pulled out my first Bible to look it over. I had marked two places with torn strips of lined school paper. The first place was Proverbs 3:5-6 (as written on the paper). It says this: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” I love the rich language of the early 1600s English words. I’m sure this was a memory text I learned, as was the other place I had marked with a strip of paper: Proverbs 19:20 says, “Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.” These verses underscore the importance of paying attention to instruction in order to be wise and to “stay the course.” It ensures a beautiful outcome.
I not only have my mother’s vintage needle book (pictured above), but I also have my grandmother’s very vintage needle book. My needle book was given to me by my insurance agent when I signed up for auto insurance at the age of 16. It’s still in good shape, despite being used so much. Sometimes things tear or rip. Then it’s time to bring out needle and thread to do some mending. If carefully mended, it can look like new again. My mother likened mending to the concept of forgiveness. In Matthew 18:35, Jesus discusses the principle of forgiving from the heart. Forgiveness mends the tear or rip in life. It makes things better than new, because it sets me free. Forgiveness was one of my mother’s most important principles she lived and taught. Forgiveness is forever attached to real love. For a happy home, a happy life, and a happy world, forgiveness is the most powerful thing one can do. “Stay the course!”
I believe in love and forgiveness.
Take care,
Charlyne