The First Few Rows Are the Worst
Sometimes we just need a little more time with yarn and life.
This year my daughter and I decided to crochet a temperature blanket. Basically this means we will assign colors to the temperature in increments of ten and will crochet one row a day in the colored yarn for that day’s temperature. Because neither of us are that consistent, we've been doing it once a week or so and just catch up on the previous days.
As I started on the first row of chain, I couldn't help but become frustrated with the task. When you begin crocheting you must first make a chain stitch and then go back with your first row into each tiny little chain with your stitch. Unfortunately I'm so bad at figuring out where the little loops are to stick my needle through, and the whole process feels defeating. I pressed on, shoving my hook beneath yarn until I finally completed one row.
The stitches felt mottled and imperfect, but I hoped the next row would prove better. I kept at it, into the second row, desperately hoping to get all the kinks out so my daughter could join in. As I eyed my twisting creation with suspicion, I was reminded of all the other blankets I've started with trepidation. The first couple lines are always the worst.
We often begin our ventures full of hope. Dreams dance in our heads of our great goals and all the progress we'll make this year in work, projects, or our own sanctification. Yet we wrap the yarn around our hook and quickly find reality. The stitches are hard to see. The plan feels too unfamiliar. Pretty soon, the hope of the finish line gets drowned out by our fear and obvious inadequacy.
The good news is that no matter how tattered our first, second, or even our 64th line may be, the Christian need never worry. Our Savior is with us through each shaky start—growing us line by line by as the Holy Spirit brings us from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18).
If you've had a lopsided start this year, don't despair. Your Lord will strengthen your hands and your faith—stitch by stitch.
I love this metaphor. I often feel that my life is more like the back of an embroidery project (a metaphor I’ve heard from other people - not original with my own thoughts). It looks pretty snaggly and messy the whole way through, but I know if I could see the other side, I would see God’s beautiful work.
On a practical note, have you ever heard of foundation single crochet or foundation double crochet? I crochet a lot and have always dreaded the first row after the chain. But if you’re not doing anything like a shell for the first row, you can build your chain and your first row at the same time using foundation single, foundation double, or foundation half double. Try googling it for your next project. It makes the first row experience a little more enjoyable!