LOOSE ENDS

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One of my aunts is a tapestry artist. Another aunt is a seamstress. My mom sews, quilts, knits and crochets.

These women have all influenced my life in deep and lasting ways. One of the things I learned about from them has to do with loose ends.

If you’ve ever looked at the back of a weaving, you know there are no loose ends. Every thread—every piece of yarn—is neatly tucked into another. It looks like chaos, but it’s controlled. Those loose ends are necessary to create the perfect image on the other side.

But there’s more to it.

In knitting and crocheting one loose end undoes the entire project.

A hanging string downgrades an elegant dress.

During this season of uncertainty, I’ve been thinking about loose ends. I’m finding comfort in the idea that God doesn’t leave loose ends. He has a plan. He won’t let one loose string, one lost job, one overseas move unravel a whole life. That’s not who He is.

I was reminded of that this last week while I was on vacation on another island with my parents. You see, as a little girl we came to Hawaii regularly. It was our sun-filled escape and vitamin D fix to get us through the grey Seattle winter and tide us over until summer.

I’ve always loved Hawaii. Loved. Loved. LOVED. It felt like my home away from home. I loved the beaches, the water, the fish.

So when Erik surprised me on a family vacation and proposed in Hawaii, it was fitting. The place I had come to love collided with the man that God had given me. It all tied up so beautifully.

And then, years later, when Erik found a job here, even though I never imagined living here, I was ok with him applying. The seed God has planted in my heart as a little girl was growing.

So we moved. We plugged our sun-deprived selves into the sands of this little island and have loved it. But now that we feel unplugged, I’m trying to cling to the truth that this is not a loose end. God doesn’t do those. This will lead somewhere. It’s all part of His plan. I’ve seen it over and over again in my life.

When you are dangling, it’s hard to remember. It’s hard to believe. But I’m going to chose to.

I’m going to choose to believe this is part of the tapestry of our lives. This will get woven back in and it will be beautiful. It has to be. Doesn’t it?

6 thoughts on “LOOSE ENDS

  1. This brings me back to our extended family, who sadly we saw more as kids than adults, and the crafts they shared with us. The simplicity of what these crafts/arts teach is profound.

    This brings me back to our family trips growing up that you have coined perfectly!

    Lastly, this brings me back to loving you sister! Your way with words and the process writing takes you on to communicate and learn is truly beautiful.

    No loose ends indeed, although they are a beautiful part (and integrated art) of the process!

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  2. In answer to your last question …. I too say YES!!!! Loose ends happen throughout our journey, but they always get “taken care of”! Thanks for these thoughts! Love, Mom

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  3. Jessica, Your writing is so beautiful! I agree with you. There are no loose ends. God has a plan, and He has a special plan for you and Erik. I love how you are trusting in Him completely. With anticipation, I look forward to what he has for you! Your mom’s friend, Thelma Hanson

    Sent from my iPad

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    • Thank you so much, Thelma! I appreciate your kind words and encouragement. Trusting Him completely is harder than it seems it should be. We are stumbling along the way and thankful that He is always there to pick up back up.

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