Fear Not, -This isn't About Washing Tips

 Got a lovely new throw for our sofa

and yesterday found a ball point pen had left 

three large, sticky, blobs of ink

 right in the middle of it 

so had no choice but to try and tackle the stain 

straight away.

To my delight most of the ink came out

 just with cold water and soap 

though I was amazed at the amount of ink stain
once it was released into the water.
A sink full of deep blue water remained,

but at last I was left with only faint marks

which I hoped would disappear entirely

 once the throw had been washed.

It was only as I loaded it into the washing machine

 I saw the label telling me

 DRY CLEAN ONLY.

 The sopping material in my hands emphasised

TOO LATE NOW!

 At the end of the wash cycle

 to my relief I saw the material was un-damaged.

The fringing however was tied up in absolute knots. 

 I tried to untangle it but without much success.

Anyway, the cold wind was persisting and the day was dry,
 so on to the line it went,

tossing and dancing with each new gust.

Even so I couldn't resist reaching out to have another go at unravelling the tangled skeins.

Why do I find it so hard to simply give in sometimes?

With a tug the dancing wind whisked the threads 
from between my fingers 
and at last I let go.

I know it may be elementary common sense 

that the yarn should be easier to tease apart and untangle 
once it was dried,

 but it was only as I disentangled the fringe on the dry throw,

each silky strand 

falling into place through my fingers,

 the penny dropped.

How often do I fret and worry at a problem,
not able to let it go,

 only to feel it become more impenetrable.

Once I can release the tightened strands of my life

 to the wind of the Spirit,

a new dance of freedom can begin.

The act of relinquishment,

of knowing my place in the scheme of things,

of above all knowing His,

opens the way to new outcomes I could never bring about.

Spirit of God, unseen as the wind

Author: Margaret Old
Refrain:

Spirit of God, unseen as the wind,
gentle as is the dove:
teach us the truth and help us believe,
show us the Saviour's love!

You spoke to us - long, long ago -
gave us the written word;
we read it still, needing its truth,
through it God's voice is heard.

Refrain

Without your help we fail our Lord,
we cannot live his way;
we need your power, we need your strength,
following Christ each day.

Refrain

P.S.  Back to the mundane - here's my newly washed throw, complete with straightened fringe!

Blessings