One Strand

We have all done it.
We see a string and we pull it.
If that string is on a sweater, beware!
You may pull the entire string from the garment.

My oldest daughter crochets.
She makes beautiful things from yarn.
I have watched her meticulously work on a row of a baby blanket.
She can easily pull out the last strand that she just finished, without disrupting the rest.

Sometimes that is a good thing.
Sometimes, pulling a strand may not be so good.
Sometimes it leaves what looks like a plowed row in cornfield.
I remember such a time.

My husband and I were cleaning and organizing the unfinished part of our basement.
We finished and came into the finished part, ready to go upstairs.
I remarked how well the Berber rugs have held up since we finished the basement years ago.
I spoke too soon.

I saw a string on the floor.
Instinctively, I bent down to pick it up.
When I pulled at what I thought was a loose string, I saw what I was doing.
The string I pulled was part of a longer strand.

One disadvantage of Berber is the possibility of snagging and/or running. With a loop construction, it is possible for things to get caught in the loop and pull it out. It does require a lot of force to actually snag a Berber. It could happen by dragging a piece of furniture across the carpet; it is not likely to happen by driving a toy car on the carpet.
(https://www.thespruce.com/berber-carpet-styles-2908883)

As I pulled, the entire strand from my Berber carpet was getting longer in my hand.
I looked at my husband as if to say, fix it.
There was nothing either of us could do.
I had a long strand of wool in my hand and what looked like a plowed row in my carpet.

There was no way to fix it.
What was done could not be undone.
It made my heart sick to think that I had done this to a perfectly good carpet.
I could not fix it, but I could improvise.

The area, from which the strand came, was at the bottom of the stairs.
It would definitely be noticed by anyone who walked downstairs.
I decided to buy a wonderful area rug.
I placed it over the area of the carpet I damaged.

I actually like the area rug.
It adds color; it is attractive to the eye as you come downstairs.
However, I know what is underneath.
I know what I did.

Danny Bryant is a blues guitarist from England.
He also sings and writes songs.
I came upon Danny’s name when I read a quote of something he had said.
His words have lingered with me; they have given me a fresh perspective.

If the Kingdom can be described as this intricately woven tapestry, you are no more than one strand in it. So be that strand; wait patiently, do what is before you, and be faithful to where, and when, and who you are.

Be that strand.
I have tumbled those words over and over in my mind.
Be that strand.
How I loved the simple profundity of that statement.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,  so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;  if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.  Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. (Romans 12:3-9)

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought.
Be that strand.
Be that one strand in the tapestry that God is weaving.
One important strand.

I pulled one little string on my carpet.
One little string that was really one long strand.
One long strand that was part of many strands.
Many strands that woven together made my carpet.

We are members of the Body.
We are many parts, with many gifts.
We are each that one strand.
If any of us were missing, there would be a gaping hole, a plowed row, an empty spot.

Be that strand.
Be glad that you are that one strand.
Be content with your place in the many strands He is weaving together.
Praise Him for the one valuable, important strand that you are.