Finishers
After my mother moved in with us, she finished a quilt she had begun many years before. Mother’s stroke in 2013 affected her speech especially. She struggled with words for the rest of her life. One day while Mother and I were discussing her as yet unfinished quilt, she forced out the words, “I want to finish.” I am grateful to say that Mother did finish it.
I understood Mother’s desire. I want to finish things, too. I believe that children do also. If you are like I am, you start more than you can finish. Our children do, too. However, I believe that one positive function that mamas can fill for children is helping them finish things. We don’t have to be sticklers about every single project, but experiencing many joys of completion is powerful for children.
When I was a girl, the leader of a club I was in suggested that we knit bandages for people with leprosy. I started a bandage but never finished it. I remember feeling really bad about that, and I can still picture my unfinished project. I did finish many childhood projects, but my young heart felt sad that I didn’t follow through on that one.
Learning how to follow through to completion is an important life skill. Because of my own childhood feelings, I made finishing projects a priority in our homeschool. That doesn’t mean that we finished everything, but I did make sure that our children learned the skills and the joy of completion.
Over the weekend, Ray told me a heart warming story he read about a group of knitters who volunteer for a new organization called the Loose Ends Project. The volunteers are called Finishers. Sometimes people cannot finish projects that are very meaningful for them—such as sweaters or blankets for their children or grandchildren—because they become ill and pass away before the projects are finished. Loose Ends Project finishers honor them by finishing their projects. The organization began in September and already has around 1,000 volunteers.
The Bible mentions finishing many times. The finishing mentioned in the passage below is the finishing that is most important. I believe that small finishing successes as children lay a good foundation for future responsibility. It is also training ground for life’s most important course to finish.
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering,
and the time of my departure has come.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course,
I have kept the faith;
in the future there is laid up for me
the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge,
will award to me on that day;
and not only to me, but also to all
who have loved His appearing.
2 Timothy 4:6-8
Later today, you can click here to find today’s dose of Winter Cheer. The webpage has all of the Winter Cheer videos with the most recent ones nearest the top of the page.
Ray shared this article with me about the Loose Ends Project.