Perfection

For the last I-don’t-know-how-long I have been crocheting baby blankets.  Sometimes they have an intended recipient, other times I make them simply because I like the yarn, after which I wait for a baby to arrive.

For the past few days I have been feverishly working on one blanket in particular, because I was recently informed that the mother would be having a C-section sooner than I had anticipated, which obviously moved up my deadline.  Yesterday evening I finished all of the rows I needed, which left just the edging.  I was so excited – I was going to finish this awesome blanket that night!

As I worked on the edging, I noticed that about halfway through the blanket, I had messed up the pattern.  It was supposed to be alternating rows of single-crochet and a cool double-crochet stitch, but I had accidentally done two consecutive rows of single-crochet.

My stomach dropped.  I was too far along to rip half the blanket out and redo it.  I had made a mistake.  In my eyes, the blanket would no longer be perfect.

But you know what?  When you look at the entire blanket laid out, it still looks quite lovely (if I do say so myself.)  Some may note the mistake in the rows, but you don’t really see it unless you’re looking for it.  The edging was easily modified and looks no different from the rest.  The blanket is still able to serve its purpose – to keep the baby warm and to show the baby’s mother love and friendship.

Over the years, God and I have had many a discussion on me accepting the fact that I am not/have never been/will never be perfect.  God has been showing me that it’s okay to be flawed and to make mistakes – we are still beautiful in His eyes.  God specializes in using us flawed humans for his glory.  The world will continue to spin if things in my life aren’t just so.  This isn’t always easy for me to accept, but it’s a work in progress.

Update: blanket is finished.  On to the next one…