by Jaye

But what about the times when no one’s there? Those chilly hours waiting for chemotherapy, the tedious days of recovery from medical procedures as we rebuild strength, the long years of bearing a disabling and painful chronic illness and waiting for a cure to be found—at those times it would be such a comfort to have loving arms around us at those times, but people can’t always be there, and sometimes God or any hope of a god seems far away.

There is a way (besides teddy bears, of course) to send help for times when no one is there, and it’s being done by a grassroots movement that supplies handmade shawls to those who have an emotional or spiritual need or face a life-changing event, whether joyous or sad. Mostly carried out in churches and mostly done by women, the prayer shawl ministry, as it’s called, was started by two women who had undergone leadership training and were looking for a way to share mother-energy with the world.

The garments they give are called prayer shawls or comfort shawls because they are made prayerfully (or thoughtfully) and given for the purpose of enfolding the recipient in the loving

arms of God our Mother/Father (or the caring wishes of their friends) at times when they need special care. Each shawl is begun with prayer, made with many prayers for the recipient, and finished with a blessing (or corresponding good thoughts). They are sent on their way with a card letting the recipient know who made the shawl (if the maker agrees) and that someone cares about them very, very much and has steeped this garment in prayer (or good wishes). They are not sold or re-sold, but they can be passed on if the recipient feels a need to do so. They can be made independently or in a group, in any style or color, crocheted or knit, for anyone at all. Men’s shawls can be modified to be more like a poncho, but many men use shawls with true enjoyment.

I am in the process of starting a prayer shawl ministry (in the sense that all members are ministers) at my church, and have never in many decades of churchgoing seen so much agreement on any one idea. As part of my purpose in doing this, I emphasize that the shawls are not just for helping with acute illnesses and crises, but also for long-term sufferers, and that many people who are disabled or have a chronic condition can carry out

their own ministries (or charitable works) with as much dignity as anyone else, including making shawls or ponchos.

The first shawl I made was started at the home of a friend with Parkinson’s, among dear friends. The second was started this past weekend (October 12, 2003) at a workshop led by one of the movement’s founders, Janet Bristow. I strongly suggest that anyone interested in partaking of the joy of crafting a beautiful object to comfort others take a thorough look at the website http://www.shawlministry.com. There are tips for organizing a group, suggested prayers, and some interesting and heartwarming anecdotes about shawls that have been made in the past. There are also two bulletin boards, one for visiting and another to sign up to have a shawl made. Many independent crafters read this board and make shawls to fill the requests.

Another benefit that must be mentioned: for many, the act of knitting or crocheting is soothing and peaceful, an excellent anti-stress tool. It is for me, too, since I took it up crochet again in August after a hiatus of about 30 years. I’m so serene lately that I’ve cut way down on my computer use. Try it, and soon you’ll be turning yarn into love, too.