Posted by Today is my momma’s birthday. Her ninth one in heaven. My mom was such a gifted seamstress. She sewed much of my wardrobe when I was young and sewed for others, too. She made my wedding dress, four bridesmaid dresses and two flower girl dresses all perfectly!
I’ve done a little hand sewing with two of my granddaughters lately. Very simple projects, but fun. Made me think I’d like to teach some of the older ones how to sew with a sewing machine. So a few weeks ago I asked my husband, Jeff, to carry up her machine from the basement. Mom hadn’t used it for years before she passed and then, after I inherited it, I never did. I was able to get it threaded and sewed a bit, but the stitches and tension didn’t look right and I thought a professional “tune up” would be best.
Jeff is driving over to pick it up from the repair shop right now. Makes me mist up thinking of using Momma’s sewing machine again on her birthday. I think she would like that. I think she would be pleased to have her great-grandchildren learning to sew on the machine she enjoyed so much. (Hopefully I can arrange that soon.)
I was teaching my ten year old granddaughter the other week how to knot the threads in the needles we were using as we were each hand sewing small pillows. I don’t remember when my mom taught me how to make these knots, I must have been quite young. I demonstrated how you lick your finger and wrap the thread around it and roll it together off your finger and then pull it down with two finger tips and some how you magically have a knot.
Lauraelai tried to do it without licking her finger. I suppose licking your finger seems a weird thing to do. So I tried to do it without licking my finger and it wouldn’t work. And as I was teaching her, I wondered about this little skill that was passed down to me from my mom. And I thought about how Grandma (who was actually even a better seamstress than my mom) probably taught her. Did Great-Grandma teach Grandma? Do other people tie their thread knots the same way, or is this a family thing? How far back can this be traced?
And then I think, how even more valuable than any skills I have, I hope I pass down to my children and grands, the truths of God’s love for each of us and of the great things He’s done. “Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power.” Psalm 145:4 (New Living Translation)
I’ve been keeping a gratitude calendar, for a few years now, and it’s been encouraging! Each day I try to write down a few things I’m grateful for, even little things like sunshine or a text from a friend. As I look back over the months I realize more clearly how blessed I am.
But about a week ago a friend was telling me about a God-story answer to prayer, and she said, “I need to remember to write that down.” Which inspires me to think, maybe I should keep a journal of God Stories, so I will remember the things–little and big–that God is doing in our lives. Wouldn’t that be a joyful thing to pass down!
Jeff brought Momma’s sewing machine home. It’s in my office now sitting on Momma’s old oak desk. I think I’ll go give it a try…
God's Grace and Life's Challenges 