Weary and Worn

As the 3rd, and the baby of three girls, hand-me-downs were a staple of my life.  My mother may disagree and say that I'm imagining it, but I disagree. 

My two sisters are nine and five years older than I am.  In some ways it was amazing....I had cool older sisters with cool older friends and then when they graduated, I had all of Mom & Dad's attention (not to mention my sisters' rooms + mine) and felt very much like an only child.  The downside of them being that much older?  It was like having two other mothers some times....and I got their hand-me-downs.

Most of the hand-me-downs were still fairly in style for spanning a decade - we lived in rural NW Iowa for goodness sake... fashion trends didn't catch up to us quickly.  Some were Sunday dresses - and I looked forward to those...others were school clothes and still some others were designated play/farm clothes because they were the most weary and worn. 

I can remember Mom sewing eyelet around the bottoms of the legs of my blue jeans because I had grown taller and money was a little shorter.  For years I despised eyelet.....with a passion!!  That eyelet singled me out as someone who couldn't afford new - who had to settle for weary and worn.  (In fairness to my mother, I did get my share of new clothes but it's funny that I can't remember them as well....maybe they didn't make an impression on me....huh....interesting....)

There is a lesson in weary and worn....

And I've learned it as I've become a mother on a budget.....

And as I grow daily in my Christian faith....

I am weary and worn....

and there is nothing shameful about it. 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.    Matthew 11:27-29
 
I think there is blessing in being weary.  If I look hard enough and step past the self pity I can see blessing. 
 
Blessing in being weary because I have three jobs that keep me running and put food on our table and clothes on our backs...
 
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.   Isaiah 40:28-30


Blessing in being weary because I have two healthy teens who are active and keep me on my toes...
 
Blessing in being weary because I am overwhelmed with responsibility because I can't say no....
 
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 
Galatians 6:8-10


Blessing in being weary because another friend is battling for her life but has a tremendous faith....
 
My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.  Psalm 119:27-29


 
Yes....I am learning that there is no shame in weary and worn....in fact, I think I can look good in weary and worn....
 
For in being weary and worn - that's where my Savior finds me and comforts me and reminds me that eyelet isn't a bad thing....it's just a piece of material.  And honestly?  No one even notices.....