Knitting
Seven minutes starts now!
Knitting. Hmmm... I first picked up needles, as I remember, in high school home ec. I knitted a little pair of baby booties by knitting rectangles and sewing up the toes. I didn't knit again until something very important happened.
Fast forward to 24 years old. I had always told my husband that he would know I was pregnant when he found me knitting baby booties. I had fertility issues. It took a few years for baby booty time to come. When I finally found out I was expecting, I had to rush to Woolworths, buy yarn and needles, and rush home. Sure enough, I was knitting baby booties, with that old pattern when he came home. He didn't get it. I had to tell him. Wink.
I didn't knit much for years.
Fast forward several years to age 51. I sat in a chemo chair knitting hats for other patients. I had to go in for treatments every three weeks. Knitting helped me pass the time during and between treatments. They were brutal. Knitting hats gave me purpose. I tried to have at least one hat to donate each time I went for treatments. A nurse noticed and began talking to me about it. She later invited me to her knitting group.
That group of ladies accepted me for me not for a chemo patient. They helped to rebuild community when most of my local friends had pulled back. People don't know how to talk to you when you have cancer.
Knitting bridged the gap. Knitting for others gave me purpose.
Jesus gave me hope and healing.
Thank you God that I was knit together in my mother's womb!
Knitting...nope, too much risk of poking an eye out.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful, uplifting story, Laura. I'm so glad, too, for the hope and healing that Jesus gives us. Keep on knitting!
ReplyDeleteIt's true what you said about other people not knowing what to say to someone that is dealing with something like cancer or other illness. When I was dealing with a health issue once, I was treated by by own kids as if it was an inconvenience to them. Happy knitting.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely group of women. You are truly a treasure my friend.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful story and I thank you for sharing it with us. I miss my knitting group in Spokane. After five years here, I still haven't found my niche. I make prayer shawls for a local medical center and baby blankets for the Open Door Mission. But I miss a group of like minded women. Oh well. I have been blessed and I refuse to complain. (Too much anyway!) Ha!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
“Laura, this touched my heart so much. The way knitting has woven itself through the milestones of your life — from baby booties to chemo hats — is just beautiful. I love how God used those needles to give you purpose, community, and comfort in such hard seasons. Your testimony of hope and healing shines so brightly here. Thank you for sharing this.”
ReplyDeleteHello! I am checking in as I haven't seen a post from you in a bit. I hope all is well, my friend.
ReplyDelete