Obedience is better than sacrifice…

It was my starting place….the desire of my heart being fulfilled. And coming out of a well-paying job to take on my own business was quite a stretch. But one thing I was certain of…..God’s direction in it for me. And if I’ve learned anything in this life, it is that to obey sometimes costs you, but to disobey costs you so much more. And so in January of 2017 the decision was made to open a brick and mortar retail space. And God faithfully provided the first 500 SF location….an office space on Osborne Road in Brevard, NC. The lease was signed and the doors opened in March. But close behind that 6 month lease came the fulfillment of the rest of the dream….a vintage home complete with gardens and more space to house Burlap & Lace.

I would suggest reading back through old blogs for how this story has panned out thus far, but let me suffice it to say….I have learned so much already. And in that learning, I realize some things that I absolutely have gotten away from while trying to grow this sweet little shop. And therein lies my lesson of obedience. May I just say here that God is so faithful? He will let us “go our own way” for a time, but as a gentle shepherd, he takes that crook around my neck and leads me back to the right path…..again and again and again.

Since opening the doors of Burlap & Lace, a lot has happened….both good things and not so good things. My husband and I have been through 2 Vintage Market Days as vendors, we have “opened shop” twice in two different locations simultaneously while doing the market (which proved to be both exhausting and exhilarating), we have lost a parent to death after a five plus year stent of Alzheimer’s (the meanest disease I have ever witnessed), I got shingles, then broke my foot doing laundry….a break that put me in a walking boot for 4 months. I have undergone Physical Therapy for the results of wearing the boot for so long, and am still doing so. That has kept me from doing my “normal” rearranging of the shop weekly, not to mention the set back of not being able to go bargain hunting like normal! Today, I am pleased to say, I saw the surgeon for what I hope to be the last time and have been released to begin normal activities slowwwwwly again. (That will be challenging! I’m not sure I have a slow gear in my possession.) To continue my saga, we are battling through the last few months of watching a second parent lose the battle to cancer. And somewhere along this journey, I decided I should be open 5 days each week which I find has been impossible to do consistently. I am having to close more than stay open in order to travel, take care of PT appointments and doctor appointments, and just “do normal life”. Which leads me back to the beginning of this long story….obedience.

I clearly knew from the beginning of Burlap & Lace that I was to be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but when things began to slow down , I felt I could add more days. So I did. And God has allowed me to “go my own way” once again, all the while prompting my spirit to slow down, breathe and enjoy what and who He has given me daily. My confession? I have begun not enjoying much of anything lately for the frenzy of it all.

Having taken time out this morning for a doctor’s appointment, I so appreciated the drive time to be still and to listen to what I knew God was instructing me to do. To coin a phrase from my earthly father, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” And that is what I have tried to do…”fix” something that wasn’t broken to begin with.

I had begun listening to people asking me how I could stay open during the winter months if I was only open 3 days/week. I panicked. And I shouldn’t have. God is faithful! Shame on me for forgetting His promises to me and getting off track….even for a little while. So with that being confessed, hear this: I am going back to my regular schedule of Thursday – Saturday 10:00 – 5:30 beginning next week. And this week? I will only be open Thursday and Friday, as we again are traveling Saturday and Sunday. Sigh….

As these gorgeous flowers bravely poked through the debris of winter, I was delighted to see their pink faces gazing up at me. Winter is passing….and spring will come. But we must wait for it. We are not in control. Am I the only one realizing that?!?

So if you wander in to Burlap & Lace this week, wander in on Thursday or Friday. And I will be here (God willing!) to greet you. Let’s take a quick peek at a few things you will find when you visit next…