I have never really been one for measurements. I don’t like measuring anything, to be honest with you. I am most definitely the kind of girl who eyeballs everything – when cooking, creating, hanging pictures – measuring tapes aren’t used. To be completely honest with you, I don’t even know what those laser thingies that people use to hang pictures are even called. And you know what? I am not ashamed to admit it.
Over the years, I have dabbled in different crafts. There’s just something about crafting that soothes my soul. That being said, I always tell people not to look too closely at anything I make, because if you do you will see there are a lot of imperfections. When I crochet things, I may have missed a stitch or two. When I make cards, my papers are crooked – all the time. I know you might suggest I get a stitch counter, or a ruler to solve those issues, but that would suck the enjoyment right out of things for me. I have a creative brain, not a mathematical one!
As with many hobbies, the crafting “community” is huge. I know there are a lot of talented crafters out there and occasionally I’ll check out different blogs and Pinterest to see what their latest and greatest creations are. One day, out of the blue, I stumbled upon an absolutely gorgeous card someone had made. I started to compare it to my own. Next to this particular card, mine were the most imperfect, crooked and ridiculous cards on the blogosphere.
Why is it so easy to compare ourselves to others? For a girl who doesn’t like measuring, I sure try to measure myself against others a lot. I wish I wouldn’t do it, because it steals my joy and robs me of seeing how I fit into His kingdom.
Not many moments later after that card catastrophe, I received a text from a friend who had received a card that I had made and sent her in the mail. She wrote about how she had been going through a difficult time and my card was just what she needed to lift her spirits. A few hours later, I received a Facebook message from a friend of mine who was fighting cancer who said that the cards and gifts I had sent her throughout her journey had always come at the perfect time.
And here’s what I sometimes miss when I busy myself with trying to measure up to the accomplishments of others. God knew what these two women needed, and He used me to reach out to them to fulfil it. I was part of His plan for their lives. My story was to intertwine with theirs. God loves those two women immeasurably more than I do, and He used my crooked, imperfect cards to deliver them a message of hope and encouragement. And that’s when the joy of making cards started to creep back in my heart. If God used my cards to uplift others, who cares if they are not as beautiful and perfect as the next person’s?
But there’s something even more important to learn here aside from crooked cards or crocheted blankets that are missing a few stitches. Like this truth in Ephesians 3:17-19:
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
His love for us is immeasurable – it’s difficult to comprehend how deep, how high and how wide his love is for us. I don’t think any of us could ever measure God’s love for us. Stop and think about that for a moment – something you actually, physically CAN NOT MEASURE.
I will be the first to admit it, my creative heart kind of loves that. I can’t even measure His love. Neither can Albert Einstein, or my eleven year old son who can out-math me any day of the week. Nor can the most mathematically minded person on the planet. It just is not possible. Isn’t that amazing?His love is so incredibly full, it will never end. It is so long and wide, you can never stretch far enough to reach the end, because there isn’t one. His love is so deep, you can’t reach the bottom. His love is so high, you’ll never get to the top.
How perfectly beautiful.
jerushaborden.com 
Reblogged this on Go – Gather – Grow and commented:
Great post about the immeasurable love of God! Check it out!
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Spot on Jerusha, God uses us for His good, crooked card or not. It’s easy to get sucked into comparison, but God just wants our imperfect surrender!
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“If God used my cards to uplift others, who cares if they are not as beautiful and perfect as the next person’s?” I love this!
It’s great that we don’t have to constantly be checking to see if we “measure” up to others, but can rest in Christ and find joy in His calling for us.
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Thank you for sharing your story. His love is truly immeasurable and gives me peace and comfort.
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