According to Prayer Shawl Ministries Home Page, prayer shawls have been "made for centuries universal and embracing, symbolic of an inclusive, unconditionally loving, God. They wrap, enfold, comfort, cover, give solace, mother, hug, shelter and beautify.Those who have received these shawls have been uplifted and affirmed, as if given wings to fly above their troubles..."
"In 1998, Janet Bristow and Victoria Galo, two graduates of the 1997 Women's Leadership Institute at The Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut gave birth to a ministry as a result of their experience in this program of applied Feminist Spirituality under the direction of Professor Miriam Therese Winter, MMS. Compassion and the love of knitting/crocheting have been combined into a prayerful ministry and spiritual practice which reaches out to those in need of comfort and solace, as well as in celebration and joy. Many blessings are prayed into every shawl."
"...the shawl maker begins with prayers and blessings for the recipient. The intentions are continued throughout the creation of the shawl. Upon completion, a final blessing is offered before the shawl is sent on its way. Some recipients have continued the kindness by making a shawl and passing it onto someone in need. Thus, the blessing ripples from person-to-person, with both the giver and the receiver feeling the unconditional embrace of a sheltering, mothering God!"
When I need peace, rest, comfort, love, nurturing, help, advice, wisdom, healing, courage, company, assurance, forgiveness, trust, and/or strength, I grab hold of my prayer shawl and hold it close to my heart, and then I am still. Sometimes I wonder what prayers were knit into my shawl. What were my Mom's prayers as she sat still and knit her love, concern and nurturing into my shawl? As a mother, I am familiar with Mom prayers. I have prayed many for my children, as well as my friends' and sisters' children. As I hug my shawl, all I pray at those moments, are "let it be so, and so it is", so that her prayers are prayed again, and accepted.
My daughter has a prayer shawl knit by her Grandma, my Mom. She received her prayer shawl after her diagnosis of Type I Diabetes and short hospital stay. Her shawl is the color of the ocean, just like the one that exists for real, down at Siesta Key in Florida. I see her prayer shawl on her bed most days. I wonder if she holds her shawl close to her heart when she is in need of something from her God of Mothering Love.
We are blessed as we are uplifted and affirmed, as if given wings to fly above our troubles.
Namaste
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