Working with our Hands Brings Beauty and Rest

I started reading The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer. The book says we should not sit around dreaming of our "dream house". We should make our current home a place that reflects creativity, beauty and our tastes. My husband is the type that sees something in the garbage and sees the potential of beauty. I see it and it is just garbage. After eleven years of marriage and God showing me much about His creativity, I am seeing more beauty wherever i look. I use to just want to buy things in a store rather than make them. Now, I am wanting to make Scripture art of our favorite verses, decorate each room in our house to reflect a theme and to have our home a place of beauty, order, creativity and rest.  Working with our hands rather than just thinking about it helps us to find expression in creativity.

Scripture:
Proverbs 31:19 - In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

Observations:
1.  She works with her hands
2. She didn't use a machine to spin (before the spinning wheel)

Application:
I don't spin clothes or even sew or make clothes but I do like to write, use scriptures as art forms, make art with my son.  I definitely am a thinker and a philosopher. I would read and think any day over work with my hands. I worked as a lawyer for eight years before my son came. I am use to studying and working my brain. I always did house work but I must say I grumbled about it. I felt my mind was not engaged and I became restless. This last week, I worked my body hard, and I realized that my brain was more quiet.

God has instructed us in Psalm 131 not to concern ourselves with great matters or things too wonderful for me.
Psalm 131
My heart is not proud, Lord,
    my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
    or things too wonderful for me.
² But I have calmed and quieted myself,
    I am like a weaned child with its mother;
    like a weaned child I am content.
When we work with our hands, our minds many times are engaged on the task at hand. We are not idle. We therefore don't have time to concern ourselves with great matters or things too wonderful for me. This Proverbs 31 study has been helping me to focus on what my hands can make rather than what my mind is thinking.

When I work with my hands whether it is journaling, writing, creating a scripture art, cleaning my house, picking berries for jelly, pulling weeds, thinning vegetables or helping others, I have noticed that I sleep more deeply and my mind is more at rest. When my mind is at rest rather than restless, my home has a peace and beauty beyond any physical appearance.

Prayer: Lord, let my hands work hard rather than be idle. Thank you that you are a creative God and that we are made in your image. Thank you Lord that we are to reflect your glory. Lord, may I not think of things too great for me. I am sorry for the times I feel responsible for figuring out the problems in the world rather than reflecting your Kingdom here on earth.

³ Israel, put your hope in the Lord
    both now and forevermore.