Willing

This week we have the privilege of sharing the work of Betsy Morgan as we launch her new book ‘Willing Hands | The Counted Thread Embroidery of Betsy Morgan.’

Betsy’s book opens with a verse from the Bible on plying the work of our hands, from which the name of both her business and the book are derived.

‘She seeketh wool and flax and worketh willingly with her hands.’

— Proverbs 31:13

Willing can be described as ready, eager or prepared to do something. It speaks of choice. Of wanting to do something rather than needing to do it.

The history of needle and thread speaks of both need and want. For many, there was a need to produce or repair textiles to clothe families and furnish homes, but there was also the desire to produce things of beauty that were embellished by the work of one’s own hands.

For many of us, the time we spend with needle and thread is a want, a pastime that’s become a passion or even an obsession. But beyond our willingness to ply our trade, there needs to be an element of doing as it’s not willingness or intent that gets something done, it’s the act of actually doing it!y

If you’ve found your willingness or intent to spend time with needle and thread far exceeds the occasions you’re actually doing it, it might be time to see what’s gotten in the way.

While each of us have seasons where our stitching will have to give way to ‘life’ itself, sometimes it’s worth looking into where the time we once dedicated to needle and thread is now spent and see what else in our life has become a priority.

Thinking about whether our willingness and intent line up helps to ensure our willing hands remain productive hands…