Knitters' Devotional: Casting Off

As we reach the end of a knitting project, we prepare to cut the yarn by casting off the stitches and tying up loose ends. It is a time to look back over the project, recognize our progress, give thanks that something is nearly completed and fix anything that needs repair. Then we finish.

As we reach the end of our lives, we need to prepare for God to call us home – for death—by separating ourselves from the things of earth and readying ourselves for Heaven. We look back over our lives. We can see all that we have learned and the many blessings we have experienced. We can try to right any wrongs and reestablish broken relationships. Then we are ready for the final stage.

Several of my family members have received hospice care at the end of difficult illnesses. Hospice workers have taught us that there are observable patterns that those who are preparing for death follow. Many begin to forget the names of those around them but to remember those who have gone before. Eating becomes less important to them. Many, shortly before the end, have a final spurt of energy during which they say their good-byes.

There is also a spiritual dimension to this preparation. Those around the dying can help with prayer and reading scripture aloud. We can offer help to people who wish to confess sins, repair relationships or make amends. Many knitters make beautiful prayer shawls for hospice patients so that those patients can feel surrounded by love and faith.

May God bless you as you prepare for the end of life and help others to do so.

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.

  ~Psalm 116:15

I am in the process of writing a knitters' devotional and would love your thoughts on this post. Thanks!