Measure twice, cut once is a real thing. Today I learned the hard way that I need to double-check the measurements before cutting. I was so eager to start insulating my shed’s walls that I used a ‘guestimate’ instead of an accurate measurement.
Measure and Measure Again
I came home with a load of goodies from The Home Depot. I changed my clothes, laid out my tools, and turned on the time-lapse video feature on my iPhone to document my work. I had my list of the width for each section. I knew that I would have to piece things together at some point, so I started with the four-inch wide sections. My width was correct, but the length was wrong.
Have you ever cut long sections with a box cutter? That was my first error. Instead of using a ruler to guide me along a straight edge, I eye-balled it as I cut, and my meandering edges ended up wonky-looking. Secondly, because I’d cut the length after only measuring once, I had some patchworking to do. Due to my overly eager start, I increased the workload. Fortunately, the insulation won’t be visible when my project is complete. But, the value of a lesson learned is priceless. And I won’t make the same mistake with the next section.
How valuable is a lesson learned?
Do the proverbs and maxims our grandparents quoted mean anything today? Words of wisdom are timeless. When our elders hand down words, it’s wise on our part to take note. Among the words passed down to me from my grandmother are the verses she had me memorize as a child.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
Trust In the Lord
The standard, or God’s ruler, does not change. And it would be wise for us to check that measurement twice before we act. Read and re- read the passage He guided you to study. Check your comprehension of what God is saying. And check your application of His words. Our understanding can be off-kilter, which causes our application to be inaccurate. No guesstimates are to be used in our spiritual disciplines. We need to trust in the Lord and that trust comes as we apply His word to our lives. In all our ways, means in all our ways. All of our habits, undertakings, and desires are to be in submission to His will and way. Trusting in our understanding won’t put us on the right path. We will meander instead of walking straight forward.
Measure Twice, Cut Once
To meander is to wander aimlessly down a winding path. Our path may curve, rise, or fall, but we are to walk with intention. Each breath God gives us is for a purpose, so the goal is to live out that purpose, to the fullest, each day.
God’s word is the ruler we need to accurately cut the boundaries of our lives. Where do you need to measure twice, before you act? How can you acknowledge Him in all your ways? Tomorrow I need to buy a yardstick to make my cuts clean and straight. And I must make time to dig deeper into His word so that my actions fall into alignment with His will. May our prayer always be, “Lord, let the words of mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight. O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer. Amen.”
*For those of you who prayer walk, ponder the maxim, ‘measure twice, cut once’ as you walk.