Lessons From a Yarn Shop
Rev. Sudha Mehta©
Yarn shop photo from Unsplash
For many years I had a Knitting Yarn Shop. You would think it would be a natural fit for I learned to knit at the age of five in India. My mother taught me. Back then you couldn’t just go to the store and buy a sweater, someone had to knit it. So, it was a natural thing for girls to learn. I was good at it, and it developed from a necessity in India to a hobby in the US.
Knitting came naturally, but selling anything was definitely not a natural thing for me. I was definitely a Very-Reluctant-Shop-Owner. Yet, He directed me in unmistakable terms to open a Yarn Shop. I was a minister, a counselor, and here as per His instructions I was also Knit-Shop-Owner.
Since I do love to shop, here was an opportunity to shop from all over the World. In my Shop was fiber from all over the world. It wasn’t limited to sheep-wool, I had the best fiber of all different kinds from all over the world.
I had to learn that natural fiber comes in a variety of natural colors. Sheep for instance come in different colors ranging from white to shades of beige/brown, stripes, spots and black. Funny how they don’t seem to notice that in the pasture or the sheepfold. They get along just fine. If only people would . . . !
photo from pixabay
Over the years, I learned a lot, made a lot of mistakes, and taught a lot of knitting. I prayed with a lot of women who would never have come to me for counseling, but who didn’t have any difficulty sharing their troubles over a coffee and a knitting project. Tears were shed and comfort was given to those that came to knit together around my table, and yes, there was laughter! There were other ways to minister with yarn also. Knitting for Charity. I was able to donate yarn to various ministries and causes to help as the need presented. Even the Women’s Prison used our yarn to teach skills to the women, and they knit for charity. Sometimes it was to knit scarves and hats for the poor, other times prayer-shawls for those that were ill. Even little orphaned lambs need help sometimes as shown in the picture below.
Lamb sweaters to help farmers in drought photo from Facebook.
Jesus called the believers “His sheep” and said He had other sheep to gather all around the world. So, it was natural for me to bring wool from all over the world in my shop.😊
Psalm 139: 13 For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.(BSB)
We put this on our logo. I figured if my God loves babies so much as to knit them cell by cell, He must love His every creation, (that is you and me)! Likewise, I figured, (a little tongue in cheek), that I too can knit every one of my creations stitch by stitch! I can sell yarn with His love in my heart for all humans.
Funny thing, as time went on, I didn’t always remember every customer by name, I remembered them by their story and their knitting project.
Photo from pexels
As being one of His sheep I had opportunity to learn many lessons that I will use this series for. I hope you stay with me.
I did like to use my calling as a minister in all I did at the Yarn-Shop. It worked!
One huge discovery was that “church” happens many places, many ways. Church is not something you go to, it is something that goes with you. You are the church, if you are a believer:
1 Corinthian 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit in you, whom you have from God? And you are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.(BLB)
So then, where you are, His temple/sanctuary/church is!
Jesus said:
Matthew 18: 19 Again truly I say to you that if two of you on the earth might agree concerning any matter that they shall ask, it will be done for them by My Father who is in the heavens. 20 For where two or three are gathered together unto My name, there am I in their midst.”(BLB)
This is a great description of a Church-service. Ask any missionary! Ask any Church planter. Over the years I have had “church” in many locations, at very odd times, sometimes sitting on my deck in the wee hours of night. Other times it is around my dining table with a few friends. Church happens when we least expect it . . . I could say, we are always ready for “church!” Also, since I am the church and He lives in me, I have a direct connection with Him and can reach Him anytime!
Last week as a few of us had Bible study around a table, it turned out that all of us had a physical need that called for a prayer of healing. So, in the small group, we prayed, anointed with oil and believed for healing. After all, Jesus said we could! We stood on His Word, and some that had been struggling immediately began to feel better. One had a doctor’s appointment the next morning. She was completely healed. As I said, “church” happens!!
People go to Church on Sundays for the service, but the work of the Church continues and must, during the week.
Notre Dame, the iconic Church in France just burned down. Over 800 years worth of history! The nation mourned, and people around the world mourn with France. I mourn with them!
notre-dame photo from Pixabay
Romans 12: 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. (AKJV)
Tragedies like this have a way of bringing Peoples and Nations together. They will build again. One thing I know is that the Presence of God does not need a man-made building to dwell in. Any church building, no matter how lovely or ornate does not contain the Holy Spirit, while any believer, no matter what age, color, race, shape, or gender does. I am a “sanctuary” walking about, and if you are a believer, you are His “sanctuary” as well.
When my father was old and unable to go anywhere alone he requested that I take him to Church. We planned many times, but his body would not cooperate so we were unable. It seemed very important to him to go. Finally I asked why it was so important that he get to church. He said, “I have to go to confess a sin.” Oh, how relieved my daddy was when I told him he didn’t need to go to Church to confess. Hearing me say “You can speak with Jesus right where you are and He hears you. No one else needs to give you absolution,” was music to his ears!
the Bible says:
1 Timothy 2: 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time.(BSB)
The last time I saw daddy before he passed on to the other side, I asked the Lord for a sign that he was right with God. Daddy was no longer able to communicate reliably. I sat down to read daddy’s Bible, and flipped open the cover. There was a letter of confession of the sin Daddy had written to God our Father. “The sin” was, in my opinion, so minor most of us would have not thought twice about it. but my daddy was a righteous-spirit, and for him this was a huge burden to carry. He learned Jesus is our burden-bearer.
burden bearer lighten-the-load-photo from Amazing Facts
I knew daddy was right with God at the time he passed. Daddy learned he was not only a “sheep” and a “sanctuary” within whom God’s Holy Spirit dwelt, but also that he was beloved of God in that the Lord visited him in a vision.
We are all given a body that is intended as a temple for the Holy Spirit. Sadly, Mankind has been good at filling this temple with other gods. It may be the spirits of other gods, or alcohol, drugs, depression, rage, self-pity, hatred, a malignant spirit, a restless evil spirit that means harm to those around. The spirit of divisiveness fills and poisons the heart of many today. Racism is a new chant I hear, this too comes from the malignant spirit that means harm. In addition, Sexual sins of all kinds bring violence to the Body God intended as His temple.
I do not know what your story is my friend, nor do I not know which part of the world you live in, what your pain is, what trouble you may be in, how your heart aches or anything. I do know this:
Psalm 139: 1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down; You are aware of all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, O LORD.
5 You hem me in behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle by the farthest sea,
10 even there Your hand will guide me; Your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light become night around me”—
12 even the darkness is not dark to You, but the night shines like the day, for darkness is as light to You.(BSB)
There is nowhere you can go that He cannot reach! Perhaps you can find comfort in the Words above and stop running or hiding behind rage, hatred, sorrow, fear or anything else!
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