When the time came for the price to get it all done, we went into polite shock. It was much more than what we could budget for. So we decided that we could do this on our own. We went online and found a place that did double mats in "almost" the same colors as the store did. They were not as fancy with the custom textures as the ones form the shop, but they were about 80% cheaper. So we bought it along with a nice backing foam.
The mat came in the mail and now it was time to decide on the frame. We went to a local shop and picked up a great BOGO free deal on frames. And then it was time to put it all together. We unpackaged everything and set it out. We opened the frame back and put the mat into place. And then the picture, backing, and then the back cover - It was too thick to handle everything. So we scrapped the idea of the nice backing foam and used some thinner cardboard. We went to secure everything - the back cover no longer fit perfectly. So, after manhandling it, we secured everything. We turned it around to admire our handiwork,and - the picture was crooked.
So, we undid the back cover, backing, and repositioned the picture and reassembled it. We turned it around and the picture was straight - but it was too low. It cut of some of the picture. So, we undid everything again and repositioned it. This scene kept on repeating itself 5 or 6 times and my frustration level was increasing. One of the times, we had everything "perfect", and found the glass to be smudged - on the inside. But we finally got it where we wanted it to be. It's not a perfect picture framing job. I see some flaws, but I am willing to live with those.
And to make matters a bit "worse", I found that I had sliced my finger on something during that process. It started to hurt only after I was done and discovered the cut.
There are many parallels I can think of for our adventures in picture framing.
- If we let the professional do it all, we would have never have experienced all these trials. We would never truly know of appreciate others in their handiwork if we would not have at least tried it ourselves. Our Savior went through all the pains and sorrows that we will bear on this earth. He did it all for us. He paid the "ultimate price". If we didn't have trials in our lives, we could never appreciate them and how we handled them, and more importantly, how we triumphed over them.
- Sometimes, the best laid plans are met with obstacles. Even though we are doing everything in our power to stay on the straight and narrow path and to hold to the rod, we are not immune from things just not working out. I believe that the Lord allows this so we can gain experience and thus grow. The Almighty Father had the plan for His children perfectly laid out. I'm sure there were contingencies and alternatives, but the end result, or goal is the same. If we can see with those eternal end-result eyes, we can see that obstacles are simply minor inconveniences.
- Having to do things over and over again are not necessarily bad as long as we learn from what we did before. If we go through the exact same motions as we did before without any variance, then we really did not learn anything. Our progression stops. We all will slip and fall from time to time, but the important thing is to "dust ourselves off", get up and start again vowing we will be more wise next time. The repentance process is precisely that - where we realize our folly, get up and don't repeat it again.
- Even when things are "perfect" in our eyes, they really are not. True, we may perceive it to be perfect, but if we take our handiwork to a professional who has years and years experience, they will see the imperfections. But guess what, they may point them out to us, but in a professional, loving way. They might give suggestions for improvement the next time we might venture into that area. Our heavenly Father, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are perfect. They can see our imperfections, but they do not call them out to our attention in a straightforward manner. They do it lovingly through living prophets and those called to lead us. They do it through gentle promptings. We do not have the years experience that they have and we are in no manner qualified to judge others in their imperfections.
- The smudged glass brought to mind the scripture that says: "For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as I am know. (1 Cor. 13:12). We can only see part of the picture, but our Heavenly Father sees the "big picture".
- How ironic and yet profound is the small little cut I received on my finger while trying to frame a picture of the Savior. I went through some pain and frustrations during this process. But our Savior bled profusely for the sins of mankind. He was racked in torment and pain in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross. My wound is healed - I see no visible evidence of any cut. Yet, it remains vivid in my mind. When we start to understand the lashings, the brutal crucifixion, and the atonement of our elder brother, Jesus Christ, then we start to understand Him and His Father better. We cannot physically see them, but we know they live and are ever-present either by living angels, guardian angels, the Holy Ghost, and leaders. We are recipients of His grace.
I am grateful for these "aha" moments in my life and how I can relate them to things spiritual.
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