In response to my blog the other day about the Pendleton shirt of a parishioner, that took me 10 years to get, this story was sent in by Donna of Nova Scotia. I feel I need to repeat it as an encouragement for church attendance.
Gene, You certainly gave me a chuckle as I read the story of the shirt. Not too long ago, in church, an elderly lady showed up with a white wool jacket. She knows I am a hooker and after some prompting, she said it would be mine, when she finished with it. To my surprise, and delight, within two weeks, it turned up in a grocery bag tied to my back door handle! Turns out she sent it to be dry cleaned and both sleeves shrank several inches! So, you never know what will come the way of attending church.
One wonders about this story … is it evidence of the power of prayer (surely, Donna did not pray for this outcome!) … or an example of showers of blessing that come from church attendance? As a pastor, I would never encourage people to attend church just so they could “get” something out of it. Still, I must point out that there are many blessings that come from church attendance … the Pendleton shirt reported on the other day being just a minor one. And, it was not my first piece of wool to come from a church member, just the piece that took the most patience to get! There have been loads of skirts, boxes of braiding wool and wool yardage come my way, not to mention truck loads of cotton suitable for woven rugs, which I also make. While these things have been a blessing to me, I also realize that, since it is more blessed to give than receive, I am really doing the giver a favor by creating a giving situation in which they can be blessed. Additionally, when talking about Stewardship issues, a reoccurring Biblical warning centers on the futility of storing up one’s possessions where moths doth corrupt. Since I store my wool in bins with either pieces of cedar or bags of lavendar, I never have a moth problem. So, it seems as though, by accepting wool from people at church, I may be providing a very valuable service to them … which I am willing to do without thanks or fanfare.
#1 by LC at November 29th, 2009
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Amen—Very fitting for Sunday morning. LC
#2 by Liz at November 29th, 2009
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Thank you for the very sound reasoning. Now if only my husband saw my growing stash as you do I would be set.
I think every hooker has a similar story to tell. My grandmother had a white coat willed to her
#3 by debby at November 29th, 2009
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Very funny, Gene. I have often sat in church and studied a sweater to try to figure out the knitting pattern, or written down the color combination on a particularly beautiful blouse. In fact, the inspiration for my first rug that I showed at Cambria ‘consider the lilies of the field…’ came to me while I sat in church, and I drew the original sketch for it on the church bulletin!
#4 by Gene Shepherd at November 29th, 2009
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Dear Sisters – Thank you for your testimonies! GRS
#5 by loisdg at November 29th, 2009
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Exegesis can be interesting. Your comments this morning gave rise to an interesting conversation on the way to church. My husband, a retired pastor and bowl turner, stores his stash behind the garden shed. My cotton and wool lives in the closet. From now on our “barns” (which shouldn’t get any bigger) will be lined with cedar (Bill has that covered) and lavender (from my garden.
#6 by Gene Shepherd at November 29th, 2009
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Dear loisdg – Always glad to be of service. GRS
#7 by Arline Keeling at November 30th, 2009
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Gene, I was just pulling out more wool for a new project and piling it on the dining room table which already has a small hooking project to be finished and a pile of ads and a list for todays shopping excursion……..And being so, so grateful that my husband never complains about my wool messes………..He does keep an eye on my garage stash so I have to keep it behind the line on my side of the garage……….I feel so fortunate to have found Hooking and all the gracious people in the wool world…..V. Sharmay