“Did you make that?” I asked a woman yesterday as I admired the beautiful sweater she was wearing. She had a questioning grin and said “no.”
Elsa and Anna came to visit a few years ago.
Years ago, I needed a new hobby so I took classes, and spent many hours on YouTube, learning to both knit and crochet. First time my teacher asked me if I had made my own sweater I laughed at her humor “I’m not THAT good!” She smiled and said “it looks more complicated than it really is – you know every stitch you would need to do that.”
This encouraged my fascination with learning more.
Over the years I have made prayer shawls, sweaters, scarves, prayer shawls, placemats, wash cloths, afghans, and have I mentioned prayer shawls. Most everything I make is a gift for someone. Christmas gifts, like sweaters, hats or scarves for my sisters or nieces are fun – I look for patterns and colors I think they would enjoy. This year I finally completed the project of making sure all my nieces and nephews have an afghan made by Aunt Patty.
Which reminds me of a story…
My nephew’s afghan - Yankee’s colors.
Gift to my nephew, which he gifted to me to use.
Eight years ago, I met my sister in Iowa City to sit with her while her husband had surgery. He had been healing well from the brain bleed from 3 months prior, and it was time to replace his bone flap – the piece of his skull that was removed due to brain swelling. I came with an overnight bag ready, just in case, but we were all expecting things to go well and hoped to be home before bed. My sister let me know that the afghan I had given to my nephew (then, age 10) at Christmas was in her bag, he told her to bring it because he figured Aunt Patty wouldn’t think to bring a blanket with her and she would need one if we stayed overnight. He was right, and we did end up staying overnight. What a gift it was to have that afghan – my gift to him had become his gift to me.
How profound this was to me then, and even more now. God gives us gifts so that we can give them to others, and in sharing our God-given gifts with others we are blessed beyond measure.
Sitting and working on any project, but especially a prayer shawl or afghan, gives me to time to pray for the one who will receive and use this item. When I go on retreat, I usually take along the materials to make a shawl. I don’t have to think about the pattern and can listen and pray as my hands work the stitches easily and effortlessly.
I have a special pattern for my prayer shawls – the pattern is filled with numbers and stitches that bring meaning to every inch of the yarn. Color is important, so if I know who it’s going to I try to do their favorite colors, or colors that are symbolic of what the shawl is given for. I don’t always know who will use it, so then I just use colors that are pleasing to me. During COVID I made MANY shawls, donating several of them to Emmaus House in Des Moines. Now, when I go there for a day of quiet, or a board meeting, I see those shawls and I am instantly reminded of the prayers and the labor of love I put into them. Every project is lovingly created. I believe a creator can’t help but love what she/he creates.
My first year assisting on the women’s CEW at OLIH, the women’s director had bought beautiful yarn to make a prayer shawl. As the weekend got closer I offered to make it for her, and eventually she agreed. I made the shawl, and seeing the joy on her face, had me convinced in making this a yearly project. Every year since I have made a prayer shawl for the Director of the women’s team. (shh… don’t tell the men.)
In 2019 I was given the opportunity to lead the RCIA at OLIH. In Baptism a white garment is given because they have “become a new creation and have clothed yourself in Christ.” I have made a white prayer shawl for each of my adults who are baptized so they have a “white garment” to take home as a reminder of their Baptism.
This weekend I was on the Women’s CEW, although OLIH is a great place for a retreat we encourage layers as the temperature can fluctuate in the building. I saw at least 4 women using prayer shawls I had made for them over the years. For me that was a visible sign of just how much this community is where I am called to be!
I obviously have the ability to make a shawl or afghan for myself, but other than one dressy shawl I made for myself years ago to wear for a friend’s wedding, I have not made anything for myself. When I went through my divorce a friend made a prayer shawl for me. I know the hours and the prayers given to create this shawl, thus I know it as not just a gift of a shawl, but a gift and constant reminder of the love and prayers that were stitched into it.
In the hands of a creator – yarn, wood, paintbrushes, bread – all become more than what they can be on their own. Isn’t that true of us? In the hands of our creator we are more.
When we go to communion, Jesus is placed into our hands so that we may consume Him. Have you considered the opposite? Do you put yourself in the hand of God so that you can be consumed by Him and formed into the person he created you to be?