Knitted Together by Christina Rich

For you created my inmost being;

    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.

Oldest modeling slouch hat made by youngest

My mother and my youngest daughter share a gift. They are both able to pick up a crochet needle or a pair of knitting needles and create recognizable objects. Blankets, baby booties, slouch hats, sweaters, purses… the list goes on.

One of my daughters is musically talented. She’s the type who can pick up an instrument and play any song just by listening to it, and she can’t even read music. And she can sing, too.

Another of my daughters can bring to life all sorts of things by drawing them or using charcoals. Right now she’s practicing her artistic skills on nails and hair.

Now my son, who happens to be a middle child, has tried drawing and music. Those are things he desired to do at one time but quickly lost interest when he realized they didn’t come easy to him. But he has a gift. Something so intricately woven into who he is that it could only be part of the DNA God knitted together while in my womb.

Oft times I hear people get down on themselves because they can’t do certain things. I know I’m guilty, especially when I see the completed projects my mother puts together or when I hear the songs my daughter composes. The words, ‘Man, I wish I could sew/play like that’ rush to my mind, because wouldn’t it just be nice to create something…anything?

I got over that when I realized God had something else in store for me. Of course, it took a few years to recognize that writing was a part of who God created me to be.  And much to my dislike sewing wasn’t. Let’s face it, making things just makes a person happy. I’m not saying writing doesn’t make me happy, it does, but it’d be awesome if I could make a quilt for my new grand-niece instead of hiring my 15 year old daughter to do it. ;)

It’s just not who I am. It’s not a gift God bestowed upon me in my mother’s womb. And I’m okay with that. I praise God because I, yes me who missed the sewing gene, am fearfully and wonderfully made, just as each of my beautiful children are.

I suppose you're wondering what my son's gift is. Well, he's very mechanically inclined. He rebuilt a lawn mower engine when he was seven and has worked on various engines over the years. He also helps his dad reupholster furniture.

What gift has God given you? Are you a people person, do you make people laugh, do you bake, make jewelry?  Do you share compassion? How are you fearfully and wonderfully made?

p.s. Yes, I can sew. Having a mother who has been sewing for over fifty years, it’s a skill one must pick up, and I’ve recently discovered I can knit scarves although I do it backwards. :)