The Story of Clothespins and Novels

My husband and I woke up this morning with the plan of drinking our daily cups of coffee, having a quick breakfast, and then going to the gym. This plan was underway when the coffee was brewed, we were sitting in our living room watching How I Met Your Mother and laughing, when I decided to check on a load of laundry I had put in about a half an hour before. To my dismay when I went to the washer, it had stopped. Mid wash. Thinking the clothes may be pretty much finished clean, I placed the pretty damp clothes into the dryer.

The clothes started on their journey of warmth in the dryer, so I went back to join my husband on our comfy, blanket-covered sofa. About fifteen minutes later, I noticed we couldn't hear the sound of the dryer and went to check on it. It had stopped as well and the clothes weren't even near to being dry.

My husband and I then dragged all the wet clothes outside and decided to hang them using fishing line, which I luckily had left over from our wedding. Now, it is extremely lucky that we have as many clothes pins as we do. For our wedding, I used them to hang the place cards. Except, I hot glue gunned each one with a brightly colored flower. I'm sure this was quite the sight to see for our neighbors. Socks, jeans, sweaters towels, and personal items all hung on fishing line using the most eccentric looking clothes pins. This task at first was stressful, annoying, and frustrating. I looked at my husband and said, "It's our first problem we've had to solve together!"

We eventually used another dryer and got all our clothes in tip top shape. In the moment, this problem was aggravating. Yet, the after fact makes me chuckle. It all worked out for good. And it is the moments like this that make for good stories.

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

A story wouldn't be good without a little mess, dirt, and frustration. Characters in a story need conflict. It is what helps the reader understand them deeper. It brings characters and stories to life. What would a four-hundred page novel be without a good nail biter, plot twist, and scheme that leaves you in tears, or wanting to throw your book across the room in angst.

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his life span? And why are you anxious about clothing? 

So, I've decided to find joy through the problems, because the One who is writing my story is in control. Sure, I may find myself in much bigger situations than wet garments and clothes pins, but it is such a comfort to know that my story is being written with the exact plot twists and conflicts to make me a person with a deep character. It is also helping me grow closer to the Author of my story.

 Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his splendor was not attired like one of these. 

As I write this I am reminded of this quote,"The hands that made the stars are holding your heart." 

But if God so clothes the grass which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not all the more clothe you?" ~Matthew 6:25-30

Be filled with joy, believer, because your Author has you on the exact page of the novel He is writing for you. Whether you are in a chapter of pure bliss or excruciating loss, He has your character where He wants him/her. Christian, our greatest chapter is yet to come. So take faith that our Author has us under His loving care, just like He does the birds and lilies.

"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." ~Matthew 6:34

Want more? Read Matthew Chapter 6.