Living Your PurposeSample

Threads of Purpose and Passion: But First Unite the Knots!

God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He

wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be?

As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 

My grandmother loved to crochet. I never learned the skill, but I watched her hands fluidly work the needles and create scarves, hats, footies, and blankets. The blankets were her specialty, and she was always in the process of creating one. Her unique touch, though, was that she preferred to use about two-dozen colors of yarn per blanket, knit in seemingly random fashion. In fact, when a person asked her to crochet a specific solid color, she would usually ignore the request and keep on doing it her way, which resembled Joseph’s coat of many colors! 

I had my own crocheted blanket as a kid, and I spent many hours staring at the blend of colors woven together. Some colors were outrageous (neon orange, blazing red, electric blue). Some were rather dull and unpleasing (ochre, anyone?). But when viewed as a whole, the blanket always looked great. When I was older, I asked her why she so stubbornly made multi-colored blankets when the norm was to use one color. Her answer surprised me. She said that years ago she was given numerous boxes of yarn, all free. All the colors of the rainbow, and then some! She felt so lucky to receive the yarn; therefore she never bought any. So, the yarn was a gift from someone who said, “Here, take it. It’s yours.” And she did. She valued the gift so much, it was unfathomable she’d need to purchase more yarn. She used what was given, no matter the shock on some people’s faces as they wondered, In what room will this look good?

We are like the crocheted blanket. Ladies, even if you don’t like all the colors of your threads, I can guarantee that God wove them into your being with purpose. He designed your soul, your personality, your passions, your creativity, your voice, and your whole being. Look in the mirror and smile at your varied threads. Then, examine where you have knots—those are places where you’ve gotten stuck out of fear or shame or anger. Once you identify those areas, become curious about the parts of yourself you’ve ignored. Sometimes it’s necessary to reframe your views about what makes you unique. Also, it’s important to engage with others and ask them what they see in you. Often we miss important traits because of self-criticism, so go out there and see what others value in you. Finally, surrender to divine mystery, knowing God is the master weaver and has plans that are grander than you can vision, and he will work the sewing needles to thread in surprises.

Questions to ask yourself:

·  What are your best qualities, according to you? What are your best qualities, according to your friends?

·  List your two biggest passions. Pray for God to lead you to the proper fulfillment of them. Now create a vision, an action plan for your desires.

God, give me the grace to know my unique value and to understand the important role I play in this interactive life.

To read more about discovering God’s purpose for your life, and getting excited about your story, read Jennie Allen’s new book, Made for This: 40 Days to Living Your Purpose, available now at Click Here