“Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22
Finally! A day of sunshine after what seemed like weeks of nonstop cold rain. BJ stopped by my house for a short visit before we set out for a day of shopping to pick out fabric and other items needed to make her Double Wedding Ring quilt. She was so excited.
Two weeks had passed since I agreed to make her quilt. We had several phone and text conversations discussing patterns and colors leading up to this eventful shopping day. In an effort to keep the costs as low as possible for the fabric yardages needed, I had already done some “window shopping” online for her. A list of fabric “families” & colors, stores, cost comparisons, discounts, coupons, and a graph of the quilt pattern were neatly folded in my vest pocket so I could easily access it in the stores. She brought the curtains that she wanted the quilt to compliment.
As we drove into the city, I asked how things were progressing with her house. (Quietly, I was assessing if I would have her quilt completed in time for her move in date.) I suggested the two stores on my comparison list to visit. I knew they had the fabrics in stock. She also wanted to visit another store that the lady helping her with interior design had suggested. I knew it to be a highly reputable store. However, I knew its stock was mostly for drapery and upholstery. It also would be very pricey. We stopped there first. BJ’s jaw dropped when she saw the prices. We were able to find two remnant pieces of calico. But, they were a bit more than the comparison stores. I suggested we come back for them if she could not find anything at the other stores.
BJ’s eyes lit up like a child’s opening a gift under the Christmas tree when she stepped into the aisles at JoAnn’s Fabrics. We perused the shelves for two hours. She found bolt after bolt of blues, greens and turquoise prints. Just what she was hoping for. She would pick one out. Lay it against the curtains and ask, “What do you think? Will it look okay with the other one? Do you like it?” My reply was always, “Do you like it?” After another hour of waiting as her selections were cut to size, we headed to one of our favorite grills for a bite of lunch.
Lunch? It was 3:00pm by this time. We were starving! The greasy burger made to order, fries and chocolate shake hit the spot! Now off to our last destination, Hobby Lobby. I can never get out of that place under an hour. We didn’t that day either.
We arrived back at my house around 5:30pm, unloaded the bags of fabric from her car trunk and said our good byes.
I was blessed to have been able to help my sweet friend shop and choose the fabric and design for her special quilt.
In studying today’s scripture thought, I found this little nugget. I couldn’t agree with it more.
Proverbs 11:14 and 24:6 also mention the value of a “multitude of counselors” or having “many advisors.” The general principle is that there is wisdom in seeking a wide range of advice from others instead of relying solely on one’s own knowledge or intuition. Considering other points of view and drawing on the experience of others is good.
Of course, twenty foolish advisors are no better than one, so the kind of counselors one seeks makes all the difference in the outcome. The Bible gives examples of people who listened to the wrong type of counsel and reaped disastrous results (Genesis 3:17; 16:2; Joshua 9:14; 1 Chronicles 10: 13–14; 2 Chronicles 22:4). A multitude of counselors won’t help if those counselors are fools.
Human beings are fallible. No one gets it right 100 percent of the time. The wisest and most godly among us are still subject to human error. We set ourselves up for disappointment and often disaster when we build our lives or ministries based upon the counsel of just one person. It is good to surround ourselves with trusted advisors—a multitude of counselors—realizing that even wise people can see many things differently.
Having a multitude of counselors is valuable because hearing varied viewpoints gives us a healthier foundation upon which to form opinions. We make the soundest decisions when we have fully investigated the issue from many angles, sought the Lord’s wisdom (James 1:5), and moved forward in faith (2 Corinthians 5:7).
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Remember to choose your counsel wisely.
Seeing how this is my first Double Wedding Ring quilt, I’ve been watching and reading many article from seasoned quilters. Some are easy to follow and understand, others… well, let’s just say I have to choose my counsel wisely too.
Hope you visit again to see how the quilt is progressing. Let me know what you think.
Be blessed friends!
Whisperings Of Grace 