For most of my life my mom was sick. She spent all of her time in the chair in her bedroom or the sun room. Until her hands got too weak, she spent her days cross stitching. Our house was full of all the wonderful images she had created. That is one of the things I remember most about my mom. I wanted nothing to do with cross stitching at the time, but as I’ve gotten older and I now have her things hanging in my own house I’ve come to better appreciate it.
There is a talk from the 2008 annual general conference of my church called “Happiness, Your Heritage” and I’m sure all of you have run into a least a little bit of it out in crafty blog-land. In it Elder Uchtdorf says,
“Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty…As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you”.
Whenever I start a new cross stitch I become almost obsessed. I can’t take a break until it’s done. I love watching the blank cloth turn into a beautiful piece of art that often shows things that mean so much to me. It’s the perfect escape from the stresses of life. The perfect time to “zone out” and think.
I’m so thankful for the unknowing example my mom showed me by spending endless hours doing something I would come to love so much.