1 million canaries

Wow, what a weekend. Crafting, eating, visiting , laughing, and some tears. This was the first craft retreat where I was there as a demonstrator. I really enjoy talking to people , listening to their stories and watching them as their creativity spills out in whatever medium they happen to use. There were people scrapbooking, cardmaking, sewing and painting. I often just sat there listening to the sound of sewing machines, paper packs getting opened and of course the hum of visiting.

This retreat was also the first time I have given a short talk at Redberry. I strongly dislike speaking in public, I even hate it when I have to give announcements in front of church. It is not my strong point. Yes I love to talk , but not in front of lots of people. And deciding on what to talk about was a challenge as well. After searching through many websites and going through many books at Parables to find a suitable devotional, the topic that kept being thrust to the front of my mind ...was my own.

I talked about value and worth. How as women we hold ourselves to certain ideals. Like when you get married, you settle down then have kids. Sometimes things don't go according to "the " plan. I brought from my own experience how I felt when things didn't fall into place or go according to plan and how it affected my life. It is amazing how God uses people, places, events to get your attention to show you how much you mean to Him,to the people who are around you , who love you. I took the passage from The Message from Matthew ,

"Don't be bluffed into silence by the threat of bullies. There's nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life-body and soul n His hands. What's the price of a pet canary? Some loose change right? And God cares what happens to you even more than you do. He pays even greater attention to you , down to the hairs on your head. So don't be intimidated by all this bully talk. You are worth more than a million canaries!"

I ended with a poem by Ita Ford, who wrote this to her niece,

"I hope you come to find that

which gives a life deep meaning for you.

Something worth living for-

maybe even worth dying for,

something that energizes you, enthuses you,

enables you to keep moving ahead.

I can't tell you what it might be...that's for you to find,

to choose, to love.

I can just encourage you to start looking and support you in that search."

I hope I can encourage you to find that which energizes and enthuses you and to let you know that you are worth more than a million canaries!