A Yarn Along, A Giveaway, and An Analogy

There are currently two projects in my proverbial knitting bag. Neither are actually in a bag. One sits by me at my desk in the classroom. A row here, a math lesson there. That's how it goes. And so it goes slowly. The other is a gift and therefore it receives more of my attention. It also travels well and I have memorized the pattern, so it is going much quicker. Mondays and Wednesdays find me waiting for the middle two kids at play practice. Much of the time, the youngest two fall asleep on the way. So I put on my playlist, pull out my knitting, and sit in the car until sleepy little people wake up.

The pattern is Saroyan on Ravelry. You can find my notes here.

Joining Ginny, as always.

The Giveaway: When Peter was a baby (how did he all of a sudden become a toddler?), I made him a sweater. I came across it the other day while sorting clothes to give away or put away, just in case. I didn't want to pack it away, possibly to not use it again, thus the giveaway. It is probably a size 12-18 month sweater. If you would like to be considered, leave me a comment saying so. I will draw a name on Sunday.

From November 2013. He was 15 months at the time, but he is a little guy.

Lastly, I have been praying a novena to Mary, the Undoer of Knots. I didn't really know anything about this image of Our Lady, but boy do I have knots in my life!

Here is the prayer I have been saying every day:

Prayer to Mary, Undoer of Knots

Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love, Mother who never refuses to come to the aid of a child in need, Mother whose hands never cease to serve your beloved children because they are moved by the divine love and immense mercy that exist in your heart, cast your compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of knots that exists in my life. You know very well how desperate I am, my pain, and how I am bound by these knots, Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of knots in the lives of His children, I entrust into your hands the ribbon of my life. No one, not even the evil one himself, can take it away from your precious care. In your hands there is no knot that cannot be undone. Powerful Mother, by your grace and intercessory power with your Son and my Liberator, Jesus, take into your hands today this knot.

(Mention your request here)

I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all. You are my hope. O my Lady, you are the only consolation God gives me, the fortification of my feeble strength, the enrichment of my destitution, and with Christ, the freedom from my chains. Hear my plea. Keep me, guide me, protect me, o safe refuge!


That part I highlighted. Yeah. I have been entrusted into Mary's motherly hands by God Himself. I don't know why I haven't thought of that before. I often ask Mary to watch over my own children when I am unable to do so myself. God is our Heavenly Father and Mary is our Heavenly Mother. However lovingly I care for my children, she cares for us even more lovingly. After all, she always says 'yes' to God, so she undoubtedly will always gently lead us to Our Lord.


 As I have been praying and pondering, I keep picturing Mary carefully detangling the knotted mess of yarn that is all my sins and anxieties. Today I thought a little farther. I can be compared to a beautiful new hank of exquisite yarn, waiting to be knit into a gift for Our Lord. A hank needs to be wound into a ball, or you end up with a jumbled pile of yarn. If I let Mary lead me, the ball of yarn will be easy to use. If I struggle with God's plan for me, Mary will have to work with me as a huge tangled mess. Certainly I can be untangled, but how much better if I submit to God's will. Mary is the knitter, gently taking my life and winding it up, sometimes easily, sometimes having to work quite tediously, to eventually present me to God.

 To sum it all up, I need to love more, worry less, and follow God fearlessly.