Fragile Knits

 

 

Knits are made from one continuous thread—much like the lived of our children. A baby is born, goes through the stages of infancy, toddler-hood, the preschool years, elementary school, middle school, high school. The child is the same person, but he or she has grown and changed tremendously from when that thread began. 

In a more literal sense, special outfits that start out as just "cute clothes" become so precious over time that they turn delicate—fragile—in their level of sentimentality. They remind us of days gone by, of childhood innocence and playfulness. Their fragility is only matched by the emotions and nostalgia attached to them. 

We each travel along that same "thread" throughout our lives. As we near the end of our
lives, that thread grows thinner—even more fragile. But the truth is, we were each knit together in our mother's wombs (Psalm 139:13). God had a constancy of purpose and destiny in mind when He formed you—and when He formed me. "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10).

No matter how externally or internally strong we are, we are fragile. We are "a mist that appears for a while and then vanishes" (James 4:14). The thread can stretch, twist, become knotted, or even snap at times. But it is never beyond repair. "Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise" - or as The Message puts it, "God, pick up the pieces. Put me back together again. You are my praise!" (Jeremiah 17:14). 

The thread of our existence is made up of different colors—these represent our experiences, passions, growth. Though we are complete in form, God continues to knit us—to strengthen areas that are weak and to renew us day by day. Yet in His ever-changing afghan, if you will, of our lives—there is more and more beauty as we snuggle into the comfort of our Father's plans, protection, and direction. He gives us all we need--and more. 

The "knitting" may not always look as we thought, but when we knit with Him, our lives take on the vibrancy and perspective we need in order to partner with Him in this richly-knitted life. We are fragile indeed, but we are "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:4)—to depend on God. To build a life—like those once sweetly donned garments—that can be looked back on with fondness, over the continuous thread of a life well-lived.