Seeing Possibilities

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While I was growing up, my mama was a master at seeing possibilities. I’m grateful for that. I’ve told you before about how she and Daddy bought a VW bus in the late 1960s and she turned it into a camper.

My mama inspired me to see possibilities, too. One way she did that was by not being afraid to try. When she was in her mid-twenties, she started taking in sewing and she continued doing that until her late seventies. I grew up with teen boys knocking on our back door from the men’s store on the street behind ours. They brought men’s pants to be hemmed or suit coats to be taken in or let out.

Again and again, women came to our front door with fabric and a pattern. Again and again, my mama transformed those raw materials into some beautiful garment. When the cheerleaders needed pleated wool skirts or the majorettes needed sequined costumes . . .

One of Mother's Costumes, 1971
One of Mother’s Costumes, 1971

. . . or a bride needed bridesmaids dresses, Mother said yes. I’m trying to remember if I ever heard her say, “No, I can’t do that.” If it ever happened, it was rare. It didn’t matter if my mama had never done it before. She saw possibilities and she made them happen.

Day after day, Mother demonstrated hard work and fearless trying. She did work a whole lot, but she took off time to play, too. Sundays, Monday evenings, and Wednesday afternoons were play time. On Sundays and Wednesday afternoons, Daddy was off work and off they went, almost always with Steve and me in tow. Sometimes they even came by school and checked us out early. On Monday evenings, the Nashville department stores were open until 9 and we were there ’til they closed their doors.

Jesus told a parable about a man who was afraid to try. His master gave him one talent. Out of fear, he buried it in the ground. The master gave five talents to another and ten to another. They saw possibilities and took action (Matthew 25:14-30).

One of your jobs today as a homeschooling mama is to see possibilities. Another is to open the eyes of your children so they see them, too.

For You are my hope;
O Lord God, You are my confidence from my youth.
By You I have been sustained from my birth;
You are He who took me from my mother’s womb;
My praise is continually of You.
Psalm 71:5-6

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One comment

  1. My grandmother did not sew the amazing variety of garments that your mom did, but she managed to keep my mom and her sisters looking spiffy by literally taking apart their dresses and remaking them fairly regularly. I honestly think it was a creative outlet for her to see the possibilities. Thanks for reminding me of family (again :)) and of this important job.

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