Prayer Meets Hook and Yarn
Sometime this past spring, I started picking up a crochet hook and some yarn and decided it was time to gain a new skill /hobby. My mother loves to crochet, anything from washcloths to baby blankets, but I never wanted to . I would always give her an excuse such as, "I'm too impatient to sit and 'knit' for that long", or "I'm not going to be good at focusing on one project to actually reach any completion". Then, as I grew up and matured a little I started seeing all the adorable and cozy creations that my mother, my sister and a close friend would make and I started to think to myself, 'maybe it wouldn't hurt to learn...' So, long story short, I ended up allowing myself be teachable in this area of my life (thank you Christa Jordan for being patient with me when I couldn't figure out the easiest way to hold the hook) and made myself practice rows and slipknots and single crochet techniques over and over again until it clicked. Then I slowly branched out and began to search Youtube for different patterns and ideas and started creating washcloths. I quite enjoy the simplicity in crocheting small and cozy items. I also find it to be a great time for prayer and meditating, as it does not take too much thinking once you get into a rhythm with it. I take breaks every ten to fifteen minutes to open up God's Word and read a passage or two, returning afterwards to meditate and pray through what the Holy Spirit might be trying to teach me. While I was making this amateur, blue cowl (show in photo above) for my best friend's upcoming birthday, I had been thinking about ways that I could use this new found hobby to make gifts for people and committing my thoughts to not only meditate on the scriptures but to also be praying for my friends as I worked on the project, that way when it was time to give them their gift, I could explain my heart behind why I did it and then hopefully every time it was used they could remember that I prayed for them and that the Lord answers prayer. As these thoughts and prayers were swirling around in my head I stumbled upon Romans 8:26-27... "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (ESV)" This verse stirred deep within my heart and gave me so much peace. There's something to beautiful about prayer; the fact that God hears our prayer, even when we don't have the words and that He allows the Holy Spirit to intercede on our behalf and that He recognizes our hearts deepest requests and longings for one another is amazing. As I wrapped up this cowl and sewed on a little, brown button I felt the Lord encouraging me to do this again and again whenever I can. I continue to pray for this close friend of mine and to continually pray for ways that I can reach out to those around me, believers or not. I hope that prayer and crocheting is something the Lord will continue to grow for me and that through the simple things in life, He will consistently point Himself out to me more and more and that He will teach me His will in every little thing. I'm grateful that God will show us the desires of our hearts and will use even the hobbies in our life, little or big, to glorify Himself...
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