November – Week 3

Marcy is 72 years old and a loving servant of Jesus Christ. She has three children, a daughter-in-love and a son-in-love, and is blessed with nine precious grandchildren. She was called to teach for almost 40 years. Since her retirement, she has been actively involved in Kingdom work, serving God wherever He calls her.

 THIS IS HOW I PAUSE: I DO GROUP CRAFTING

I am not artistically gifted. I cannot draw or paint. My knitting, crocheting, and quilting attempts are a mess. Yet, God has used group crafting moments in my life to bring me closer to Him through fellowship with his precious daughters. I believe He wants me to understand my sisters more compassionately, give grace over judgment, connect with others, and love more genuinely so that I can know Him more deeply.

I did not realize the power of crafting at first. I work with an organization that brings leadership training to missionaries all over the world. In addition to that training, we also try to reach out to the community and usually have a one-day women’s retreat to speak into the lives of women from the area. When we leave, the missionaries are still there to do the follow-up. Interestingly we found that the main hurdle was not the language, nor was it cultural or economic differences; it was in encouraging these ladies to share their lives so that our team could, in turn, share the love of God with them.

 We added craft time to the schedule instead of another talk. We found that the women started to share their struggles, questions, heartbreak, and fears more easily around a table while choosing colours of material or ribbon, deciding on a Bible verse, glueing beads, lace, or sequins and encouraging each other’s work. As they began to share, they also started to connect. They realized how much they had in common, but more importantly, they learned how faithful and loving God is and will continue to be in their lives. Crafting unites people not only to each other but also to the character of God. This happens not in the final outcome of the craft but in the creating, sharing, and bonding during the process. I could witness the Holy Spirit working right in front of me. Hearts were softened toward God, minds were opened to learn about a loving Heavenly Father, and the power of the Spirit was felt within them.

 Statistics show that there are many benefits of doing a craft. It is a stress reliever and a confidence booster; it increases empathy and enhances brain productivity. However, the most beneficial advantage of doing a group craft is the fellowship with each other and the ultimate fellowship with the Father. Shared love, compassion, and prayers bring the character of God into a greater reality.

 One such retreat happened in Zambia. I started to bond specifically with one woman. The craft was a banner in which we also chose a Bible verse to add. We decorated and coloured our verses – adding lace ribbon and beads to complete the craft. We laughed, questioned our decisions, encouraged each other, and praised our final work. She seemed to have it all together, but during prayer time after the craft, she shared with me her health fears because she was pregnant, her stress over her family and financial situation, her waning faith in a God who could allow all this to happen. As we prayed together, she started to reconnect and put her trust in a faithful Father who would love her, protect her, and provide for her. I visited two years later and held a happy and healthy baby girl in my arms. I could see how this sister and friend was overflowing with gratitude towards God for all He has done and how it ignited her passion to share about his faithfulness to others. Today she is working with young, vulnerable girls and sharing God’s love with them. Even 8,000 miles away (12,874 km), I still get prayer requests, pictures, and words of encouragement from her.

 Our first time together, pausing and breathing over a banner we made to remind our families of God’s love for us, has birthed so much more. That banner with the Bible verse, lace, beads, and colourful design will long be gone, but our sisterhood in Christ is as everlasting as our God.

 Philippians 2:2

And make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.

 Romans 15: 5-6

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 1 Peter 3:8

Finally, all of you, be like like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.