Shirley’s Prepackaged Crafts

I am a first-generation Canadian Mennonite whose grandparents (and mom) fled Russia due to religious persecution.  My husband, Dave, and I met in what was then called West Germany as we attended a Torchbearer Bible School.  After ‘dating’ long-distance (900 miles) for two years we were married in Minneapolis.  We settled in Minnesota since Dave’s mom was already alone back then and our intention was to be here for her.

Seventeen years later we now have been blessed with four healthy boys, so you know there is some intense energy running around our place each day!  Collectively they have been known as the “Raging Prophets”!

The first few times this craft business came to me the only thing in my mind was NO.  I didn’t give the Lord any excuses.  I also didn’t give Him a hearing out . . . or obedience.  I thought it was WAY TOO MUCH.  Too much work, too much time, too much commitment, too much research, too much, too much, too much!!  I thought the idea was a good one . . . for someone else to do!

As He is in the habit of doing, the Lord began to work first in my life and then in the life of my husband.  First came a chastisement.  The details would be too long to write all out but in the end I was impacted by this message:

You are not a little child who has nothing to offer to encourge others.  You’ve now been through some hard times and come through them knowing of My faithfulness to you personally.  Tell people.  Open your mouth.  Don’t keep quiet.

Now fast-forward ten months.  A friend had been diagnosed earlier in the year with cancer.  She is younger than I am with two children the ages of my two older ones.  We met a number of years ago when I had a daycare in my home.  Both her kids asked Jesus into their hearts when they were here.  How excited we were for them back then!  Well, on this day I was bringing a meal to them when I was completely humbled and thrilled.  She started talking by saying, “All those years ago when we started coming to your daycare, little did we know how desperately our family needed you and your family.”  And she went on about how we included God in a normal, everyday way as part of our lives.  She continued about the Lord and how much they have changed.  It was one of those moments that God allows the curtains to be parted just a bit so we can see the ripple affect we have on others.  It was also a HUGE reminder to me of what is important, even though I concern myself with so many things.  It was very humbling that God would choose me to work through and very encouraging that my little life makes a difference.

The final push for me to be willing to open this business was another medical crisis for my mother-in-law earlier this year (2007).  Dave has been the only one working outside the home and a couple years ago he had to take a much larger role in taking care of grandma.  As a result he has reduced his hours and income.

Shirley’s Prepackaged Crafts is more than just a business to me.  I see it as a ministry where I can bring spiritual refreshment and encouragement into the homes and hearts of moms, urging them on to finish strong with the little ones God has entrusted into their care.  With everything already prepared, the request to “do school” can now have a positive response and attitude from mom instead of guilty feelings knowing that there is no time left in the day to pull together one more thing.