Guest Blog by Jean E. Carter
I am crocheting a special afghan that will be given to my grandson who is graduating from high school in May. It is something I do for all of my grandchildren as a present for when they turn 18. However, this year I got behind and failed to get it made in time for his birthday. I felt bad and started to make excuses. I had plenty: hip surgery, stomach problems, helping with weddings, The Girls Get Together, etc.
At one-point, Satan had even convinced me that it didn’t really matter. He had me believe that my gift was not important and that, because of the circumstances of the past two years, my grandson would understand. After all, I thought, I could just get my sister Arlene to crochet him one. (She does it so much quicker and better than me.)
Then, I remembered what made my afghan so important to my grandchildren. It was the love and prayers that went with each stitch that I crochet. I began crocheting immediately; Satan would not get the victory!
From the very first stitch, I begin to think about the child for whom I am crocheting. I start praying and thanking God for what that grandchild has meant to me and the blessings I have received by that grandchild. I think about his needs, his hurts and concerns, and God’s direction for his life.
Before too long, all those simple stitches bind together begin to form an afghan, and those simple thoughts and memories begin to create a prayer.
When I finish the afghan, I ask God to help me reflect back over my thoughts as I write a letter mentioning all those fond memories. In that letter, I explain my love for the Lord and the love I have for my grandchild. I do all this for a few reasons. I want my grandchildren to have something special to remember me and to help them understand how important they are to me. I also want to share with them my testimony, hoping that my gift and words of love draws them to a closer walk with our Lord.
So, why am I telling you this?
I have been crocheting this afghan during our time of isolation, trying to social distance myself and my husband from not only the general public but also from those we know and love most. While crocheting, God was teaching me an important lesson.
Satan uses difficult times like what we are experiencing now to destroy our walk with our Lord. Satan tries to make us afraid; he encourages us to give up. When details of the Covid 19 started to develop, I began to grow fearful and panicky. I became angry over all the negative thoughts that were coming out about our government, the virus, and especially those who were attacking God. As Satan began his attack on me, I realized that just as it would have been easy to give up on my afghan tradition, it would be easy to give up now. Satan wants to destroy my testimony, my relationship with our Lord, and the witness I could be to the lost. He wants me to be ineffective for the gospel.
Crocheting is a painstaking and time-consuming process for me. I can concentrate on that and gripe about the task before me, or I can concentrate on all the blessings that it brings to me and to the one receiving the gift. In the same way, this virus has the potential to do one of two things to us. It can destroy our relationship with God, or it can bring us closer to him.
I can focus on all the negativity, or I can look for God. I can concentrate on all the ways that this virus has given me the opportunity to grow in Him. I can consider how I am going to use the time I have while confined to my home.
I can use the time reading Facebook posts, or I can use that time reading God’s word.
I can criticize others and their actions as related to social distancing, or I can comfort, encourage, and pray for others.
I can wonder what more can be done so that our lives can return to normal, or I can ask myself what more I can do for others to help them get through this difficult time.
Colossians 2:2 says, “I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself.”
This is what I desire for myself and for all of us. I want to see us as the body of Christ, joined together in love and in the confidence of Christ. I want us to be the light in this time of darkness, witnesses for our Lord. If we allow Him, God can knit us into stronger relationships with Him and each other. As horrible as it is, this virus is giving us the opportunity to be a greater blessing to our community, our country and the world.
Just like it takes small delicate stitches to form an afghan, we can take small, intricate steps right where we are, from the comfort of our own homes, to let the world know that our God is bigger than any virus and that His love is more profound than any cure.
We can love more, we can trust more, we can pray more, we can read his word more, and we can share more. As Tricia, so often says, God has given us a platform. We all have the opportunity and the means to reach someone. As we step out in faith to combat our own fears and help share the gospel message, God can take our small steps and bind them together to give us the power to defeat Satan, to defeat fear, and cover the world with a beautiful picture of the love of Christ.
“Three things that last forever—faith, hope, and love, the greatest of these is love.” (I Corinthians 13:13:)
I love you all and hope that in some way what God showed me may help you as well. I hope you have a blessed week and that you continue to use your time to glorify Him. I miss all of you. I am praying for all that are on the battle field confronting the enemy (Satan and the pestilence). God bless you.
Jean E. Carter is the most senior of The Girls. Wife of Gerald Carter, mother of Tricia, Marsha, and Nancy, she is the design and floral expert for The Girls Get Together, a retired teacher,, and a Godly mom who does her best to make sure her girls (and grandchildren) tow the line!