What a group!
Linda Soller | Mar 03, 2014
Have you ever been part of a group that just evolved from people sharing a common interest to a group that seemed to magically bond? I think I have mentioned the Yarn Yarn Sisterhood (YYS) before. It is a community group that meets at our church twice a month. Members generally like to knit or crochet, or do any number of fiber/fabric related activities. When we started about 10 years ago we selected the name because it was a play on the title of Rebecca Wells’ book Devine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, which was also a popular movie. We thought we were being so clever, and indeed it turns out we were pretty clever in making that connection. The book offers the reader an eclectic mix of personalities with bonds of family, love, friendship, rivalry, and geography that tie them together. When our group began, the art of knitting was getting lots of attention, so we sometimes had meetings with 30 women of all ages, sitting around, chatting and being industrious. I was pretty surprised by the community response. Over the years the size of the group has shrunk, but the dedication of those attending hasn’t diminished.
I feel certain when some people see our group’s name in the church bulletin, on the church web site, or even on one of our cards or flyers they make a religious connection to the word “sisterhood.” It is possible that church connection may have even kept some people away. Those people would be both right and wrong in their assumption. Our group has a few members who go to our church and equally as many who don’t. Among those who don’t attend FBC Herndon, some don’t attend church at all. The reality is that FBC Herndon allows us to use their building and we appreciate any public exposure our group gets from the church’s communication.
So here we are, still meeting twice a month and sharing a common interest. Over the years we have gotten to know each other through our conversations on just about everything. While Project Runway has gotten more than its fair share of discussion, we have also been there through illness, injury, loss of jobs, new jobs, deaths and births, and all the things that life has thrown our way. When I say we have been there I mean been there physically at the meetings to talk with each other, and been there on an emotional and yes spiritual level to support each other. This is where the sisterhood part of our name comes in. We may never have gotten to know each other if not for YYS. Isn’t it amazing how God works in our lives and brings us together with people in the most unusual ways? Webster’s dictionary defines sisterhood this way – “the close relationship among women based on shared experiences, concerns, etc.“ I truly believe that God put YYS in FBC Herndon to serve as a sisterhood.
At our last meeting I was sitting in room 200 waiting for the others to arrive. It was 15 minutes past our start time, I was just about to close up the room and go home assuming the cold winter night had kept everyone at their house. Just then one member arrived, then a second, and after about 10 more minutes a third. Four of us sat, worked, chatted, and laughed until time to go home. I was touched by the fact that members of our group know they can count on each other to be there. I know God wants us to fellowship with other Christians, but I also believe he wants us to fellowship for support and friendship, and to witness to non-Christians. What better way to show your faith than by the friendship and support you offer to others. In our busy fast paced lives it would be easy to live in isolation, never really letting people in to our lives beyond casual encounters. As we left the church that night still laughing and talking, I smiled and thought – what a group!
Have a great week! :o) Linda