The Next One Thing

When I was still in high school I was introduced to what soon became a love and then obsession: counted cross stitch.

As I was stitching the other day I realized, or maybe I was made to realize by God, about how Crosstitch is like life.

I Remember when I started how overwhelming it all was. What fabric do I use? Aida or linen? Do I buy floss and find a chart or buy a kit with everything included, even a needle? Isn't life sometimes confusing and confounding like that?

My first project was a beginner's kit of a mouse sliding on a candy cane. I have such fond memories of it. When you tackle a counted cross stitch you need a chart, a Bible, if you will. Something you use to point your way to your goal, completion.

The entire process is about working on certain areas of color and creating the project one stitch at a time. Life is like that. We live one minute at a time and as we advance we create a beautiful life. One moment adds onto the next moment until you can't believe how far you've come. 

The same goes with cross stitch. I am creating a green doorway design. And in the beginning it looked like a whole bunch of nothing. But as each stitch is added the bigger picture is revealed: the entrance to a building. 

Have you been wondering why your life isn't evolving fast enough or why you can't see your goal from here?  

It's all about baby steps, baby. Just like my cross stitch doorway Buildings weren't created in a day either. First you have to pour a firm foundation. And then the structure of the framing has to be created so the building won't fall over. And it all happens one step at a time. One phase at a time. One stitch at a time. You can't rush the process or you risk ruining the end result. 

So don't be overwhelmed by all you have to accomplish. Just focus on the next one thing. And then when that is accomplished focus on the next one thing. And then focus on the next one thing  And before you know it you have met your goal. It will be a surprise, believe me. When you come to the end of a project that took an entire year you look at what you accomplished and think I DID THAT!

That is the only way any cross stitch is completed, by focusing on one stitch at a time. One day at a time until the work is completed. 

I hope this helps you with your next big project. 

Blessings.