Why I started ...

char ● i ● ta ● ble

relating to the assistance of those in need

• (of an organization or activity) officially recognized as devoted to the assistance of those in need
• generous in giving to those in need

synonyms: big-hearted, giving, benevolent, philanthropic, etc.

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In the day and age of so much violence and hatred towards others, we truly see the verse of Matthew 24:12 all around us ...

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

There is the ever-increasing number of nursing home patients due to health issues and the large aging baby-boomer population. Due to financial hardships, the number of homeless and down-on-their-luck people have increased. And more and more people could just use the comforting "hug" of a Prayer Shawl. 

Times are hard for so many, for a myriad of reasons. And for most, receiving a hand-made item for their comfort means so much. They realize there are people out there who care about the lonely, the hurting, and the lost.  

This may sound a bit dramatic, but you never know ... your handmade, donated crochet (or knit) item may keep someone from the pit of despair. It may give a person that one extra percent of hope they needed to keep going. We often never know just how much we positively impact a stranger's life. 

Now,  if I may crack open the Bible for a moment, I would like to briefly explain why I started this blog. Ephesians 2: 8-10 ...

8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

We are not saved BY works, but we are saved FOR works ... good works. 

I firmly believe that God gave me the ability to quickly learn crochet and have the opportunities to help others through this talent. And until He says otherwise, I feel this is what He wants me to do with the talent He gave me. 
 
Since I learned to crochet about 5-6 years ago, I have been crocheting items for donating to the homeless, the nursing homes, and a Prayer Shawl ministry. 

This is how I have, and continue to, tithe to the Lord - I have given of my money (yarn) and time, and have freely given these items to others to help and comfort them. 

 

 

Beginnings

Roughly five years ago, I began my journey with our Lord Jesus by truly becoming a Christian. The purpose of this blog is not centered around God and the Bible, but it does have its roots and foundations in God.

God gave each of us talents to be used to help, guide, teach, and love one another. But I had no idea what mine were. Yes, I love to research (and boy did I research the Bible ... and still do). Yes, I love to read. Yes, I learned how to (and had a business) building websites. However, I couldn't find a real purpose that utilized them for God.

I honestly do not remember when or how I got turned onto crochet. But I did. I am mostly self-taught via YouTube videos ... and practice, practice, practice. Pretty much immediately, I knew I was going to crochet for the homeless and nursing homes. I will probably doing another post that goes into more detail about my desire to help others and what other plans I had ... if I had the money! LOL

The church I was then attending has a Prayer Shawl ministry. And while I no longer attend that church, I do still crochet blankets and shawls for them. There are only about 3-4 ladies who are active in the group and are on up there in age. I would hate to see that ministry fade away.

I am also a member of a group called Catawba Crafters who are heavily involved in crocheting items for local homeless organizations, nursing homes, and a few individuals who do missionary work. They can be found on their Facebook page. The group is mainly to communicate with each other about the projects needed for which organization, our running totals, meeting times, etc. It is NOT a market place to buy/sell. Even if you can not crochet/knit, donations are more than welcomed as our fearless leader, Jo, buys reflective yarn to add to hats and scarves for the homeless for safety ... this is wildly popular with the homeless population.

So, this is what I've been doing in my spare time over the last several years. Watching crochet videos on Youtube while crocheting. And don't get me started on the collecting of crochet patterns and the buying of pretty yarns when I have no pattern in mind. It's three hobbies in one!

Ok. Until next time ....