Wonderfully Made

A couple of Sunday’s ago to help the kids understand these verses, we brought out yarn and taught them how to knit and weave. It was amazing to watch how each child approached it differently. Some picked it up quickly and wove rows with ease. Some got a lot done, while others took their time. Some chose bold colors and fun patterns, while others were more simple and quiet in their design. A few only managed to weave in a handful of strands, but every single piece reflected something real and  personal. And isn’t that just like our walk with God? We’re all at different stages, and God is patiently weaving His work in each of us in His own perfect timing.

They didn’t finish during class, so I brought their pieces home, planning to weave in a few more strands and tidy them up. But then I paused. It felt like God whispered to my heart that they’re perfect just as they are. As I looked over the weavings, some with many rows, others with just a few, some with loose ends and uneven lines, I no longer saw saw mistakes. I saw beauty. Each one was completely unique, just like each child who made it.

Psalm 139 tells us that God knit each of us together, which means He intentionally designed every detail. Not one of us is a copy or an accident. Our DNA, our fingerprints, our personalities all different and purposeful. God didn’t mass-produce us. He handcrafted each of us, strand by strand, into being. What a powerful truth, not only for our children, but for us as adults too.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 reminds us that we weren’t meant to live this life alone. A single thread can break easily, but a cord of three strands is strong. That third strand in every relationship, every life, is Jesus. When we weave our lives together with one another and with Him, we become grounded in a strength that holds firm through whatever comes.

These kids we work with each week, with their silly jokes, their deep questions, their big dreams, they won’t stay children forever. One day soon, they’ll be adults, husbands,wives, parents. employees and leaders. The world will pull on them in a thousand different directions. But what we’re weaving into them now will matter for who they become.

As a church, we have a responsibility and a privilege to help shape them. To weave in love. To teach them truth. To help them understand they were created on purpose, for a purpose. That their value doesn’t come from fitting in, but from being exactly who God designed them to be.

I am close to turning 60, and I still love working with the kids. Yes, I had more energy 30 years ago and could run a lot faster, but now I have more patience and wisdom. Sometimes people believe that once they reach a certain age, they’re no longer useful to God. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. There is no expiration date on purpose. We can all be used by God at every stage of life.

We may not all feel called to teach or lead a class, but we all have something to offer. A kind word, a hug, prayer, listening ear, financial support, cooking food and snacks for events.  Simply showing up with love and consistency. These are threads we weave into the lives of our children that will remain with them for years to come.

When I finished the kids’ yarn crafts, I didn’t change their work. I just helped bring it together. That’s what God does with us. He takes our individuality, our rough edges, our half-finished parts, and He weaves them into something strong and meaningful. He uses community, the church, and He uses us, at every age, to help shape the next generation.

So today, let’s remember. We are each fearfully and wonderfully made. Our children are handcrafted by God, each uniquely knit for His purpose. And when we bind our lives together with Christ and one another, we are not easily broken.