It is quite the unique way to remember a loved one who has passed, by sewing their neck ties into aprons. This is the project that my friend came to use my sewing machine for this past week before Christmas. She pinned and I sewed. The wide-ness of the tie creates the skirt, the inner thin pieces become the apron strings to wrap around the neck and waist. Love the colors.

It’s a project that creates both a meaningful gift and a talking memory piece of her Dad, from her Dad, who passed away this year. She arranged two color patterns, more red/brown for her sister and more blue/black/purple for her daughter. Oh I love the classic ties of the 70s 80s and flashy 90s styles too.

What I REALLY like thinking about is that THESE NECK TIES witnessed YEARS and YEARS of TEARS and CHEERS. Thet witnessed LIFE. They saw each business day, many weddings and funerals, gala events and all those tie-loosening car rides home in decompression. These neck ties are silent witnesses that saw it all.

Wouldn’t that memory be the same for many of us for our Dads? It would be of mine (except my Dad wore clip-on neck ties, haha, but he always wore a tie as a banker). Our Dads saw a lot. They navigated life. They raised families. They set us, their beloved children, on our trajectories for life today. They are remembered. They are cherished. They are LOVED. Memories are the TIES that bind. 

This is Christmas time: we remember how Jesus came into our earthly world and forged TIES with His loved ones, us. Family and true friends became His disciples and He saw and sees one-body as His bride of Christ, true family from all His followers. AND Jesus bore silent witness to so many detractors who became lost souls. Jesus fulfilled prophecy that said He would be the silent lamb brought to slaughter. He was and is the perfect lamb born for silent sacrifice. 

Aprons must be tied tightly to hold on. Family ties are strong too, no wonder we mention cutting the apron strings when it’s time for a child to venture out. But with Jesus reminding us, we are to LIVE KNOWING what the Father wants for us. Jesus IS the TIE that binds us to our Heavenly Father. He is the New Covenant and Jesus is the apron and apron strings as well. Jesus is that wrap around us in protection. Protection for not our clothes but for cloaking over our sins in His covering GRACE. Jesus is also the sewing stitch of the NET that is capturing us. He is the one threading MERCY into our lives and making us whole.  His life was and IS sewing our brokenness back to wholeness.  He is the thread and needle, stitching love.

If Christmas Day is a memory where LIGHT entered the world, and Easter Day is a day of Majesty realized of Jesus completing the prophecy, then what is today? Surely Today, Today IS the DAY of Salvation. 

Jesus IS the LIGHT who opened our eyes to His Majesty and He gave us a seat at the table to be with Him.

Merry Christmas to all as we are all family in Christ. 

JESUS, YOU ARE OUR CHRISTMAS PRESENT TODAY. 

Amen 

...”This is what the Lord says— the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel— to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the servant of rulers: “Kings will see you and stand up, princes will see and bow down, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

…This is what the Lord says: “In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances, to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’ a Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. Isaiah 49

…All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. Isaiah 53:6-7 

Isaiah spoke of the coming of Jesus:

...”I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” 

HE WANTS US TO KEEP SEWING HIS LOVE.