Monday, August 12, 2013

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. :)

18 comments:

  1. Thanks for such a wonderful post, Christina. Our unique talents make this world such an interesting place to live.

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    1. They do, don't they? I love trolling craft fairs, antique car shows etc, just to see the talents God has gifted others with.

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  2. Great post, Christina and love the photos. Like you, my gifting is writing, but I do dabble in crafts from time to time. :)

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    1. Jodie, I believe I'm a craft wanna be. :) Actually, I tried making pendants for Christmas gifts this year and glass ornaments another year. I do like to do things with my hands, but writing is my gifting-home.

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  3. Thought provoking post. A reminder that we are fearfully and wonderfully made and God's design is not flawed.

    I would have to pay someone to crochet too.

    :-)


    Tina Pinson

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    1. Tina, thank you. Too often I hear people put themselves down because they can't do. I pray my post helps them embrace what they do do well.

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  4. Thanks for a great post! And this is so true that god gave us all a special gift for us to embrace and enjoy!My gift happens to be music like your daughter! And i love using and embracing the gift god gave me! Thanks again for this amazing post!! :)

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    1. We all have many gifts and talents. You look close and I'm sure you'll see you have more than one, Calico. :)

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    2. Calico, the gift of music is one of the most beautiful ones, especially when it's used to worship the Lord.

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  5. A great reminder that we are all unique! I love being a wife and mother and feel some of my talents are found in caring for my precious family!

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    1. That is definitely a talent, Britney. :)

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    2. Britney, that is a huge talent. For so long I was made to feel as if I was lazy by outsiders because I chose to stay home and take care of my kids. I wish I would have embraced that gift more during that season. I'm grasping hold of all I can now and loving every bit of it.

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  6. Christina, I really appreciated your post! It was very encouraging! Being the sixth of twelve children I could see my siblings talents all around me(Like Amber!), but mine were harder to see. but in the last couple of months I've discovered that I'm okay at baking and pretty good at helping mom with the younger ones! Anyway thank you, and God bless you!!!!

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  7. Melody, I'm glad you are seeing what you're doing as a gift. There is a lady in our church. She's 88 years young but she's home bound. She bakes cookies for all the new people that come to church. A gentleman picks them up and gives them to another lady who distributes them. Those cookies are a huge blessing to newcomers. And, as a mother of only four, I know how much I appreciated all the help my older children gave with the youngest. It sounds like you might have the gift of hospitality and that to me, is one of the more precious gifts. It takes someone special to make others feel special.

    God bless you as well, Melody. Thank you for stopping by. You made me smile today.

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  8. Hmmm... how do you knit backwards? Sounds intriguing! I love seeing my children grow and develop their talents. Thanks for the great post!

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    1. There is definitely more than one way to knit. I enjoy using the left-handed method. :) So glad you dropped by, Kimberly.

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  9. God has so richly blessed us all with talents. From the award winning to the mother rocking her sleeping baby, God is good and he watches over all of us.

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