Have you ever known that you are not great at something but, in a moment of weakness, you think, 鈥淢aybe this once I鈥檒l be good at it! I鈥檒l just try again鈥�?
Regrettably, I apparently am not a quitter.
When I was in high-school I had to take 鈥淗ome-Economics鈥�. Unfortunately, back in 鈥渢he day鈥�, we had a limited choice of classes to take. I wanted to sign up for 鈥淚ndustrial Arts鈥� but when I asked my mother about it she was adamant that I would need skills to keep a home well and that I must choose between cooking or sewing. I鈥檇 already done an embarrassing stint in 鈥渃ooking鈥� so鈥ff I went to sewing class!
I remember the teacher sighing, often, as she tried to help me understand the logistics of making the 鈥淓asy鈥� blouse pattern I鈥檇 chosen. I also recall the day she said, 鈥淚鈥檝e never done this before but you鈥檝e told me your mother sews and, since you are so behind on your project, you must take this home. Perhaps your mother can help you.鈥� (Another sigh)
I agreed, confident that I鈥檇 figure it out when I didn鈥檛 have the pressure of the educator peering over my shoulder.
As my mother observed my struggling, I recall more sighs of frustration but, 小蓝视频 a good, Christian woman, she did not condone cheating. For awhile, as my teacher had done at school, she tried her best to instruct me and stick to her values but, after seeing me brutalize the shirt for too long, even she could stand it no longer. Leaving integrity in the dust, she became compelled to right my many wrongs.
As humiliating a memory as that is for me, I believe it is even more-so for my dear mother. She was more than a bit heartbroken with her - I mean 鈥渕y鈥� - less-than-adequate mark at the end of that semester. Sadly, she couldn鈥檛 appeal it without admitting she鈥檇 sewn most of the garment.
Years later, I thought I鈥檇 try my hand at stitching again and borrowed my mom鈥檚 sewing machine. I鈥檓 not sure, since I was older and a mother myself, if I thought I鈥檇 learned (by osmosis or some miracle?!) how to think right-side up when working inside-out?
Sadly, it only ended with my mother鈥檚 mumbled disbelief as she took apart the asymmetrical seams and, once again, finished the outfit for me.
Why then, with awareness of my limitations, do I insist on repeating idiocy? I know that I am not a soloist but I recently sang one which was, regrettably, recorded. As I watched and listened with total humiliation, my very ill-pitched performance, my mind returned to that scene, from years before鈥�
As my mother ripped open the stitches I鈥檇 made, her words rang true鈥� 鈥淧atricia Dawn - no one has every gift! Use the ones you鈥檙e given!鈥�
