Linus

I’m sure many of you have worked on projects for charitable organizations. When you sew or crochet or knit, eventually it seems to come up since you end up with more projects than friends and family to gift them to. I’ve made scarves, afghans, preemie hats and NICU scent-holding pieces to send off into the unknown to offer comfort for people in need.

I haven’t wanted to write about it because this summer has been filled with too many hospital visits, but I’ve been spending the past few days at the hospital as my father-in-law is not doing well. Then something happened on Tuesday that brought crafting into the picture in a powerful way.

When i walked into his room, this afghan was there. From the way it was folded, I thought it might be something my sister-in-law brought from home, but I unfolded it and saw the tag. Someone had made it and donated it to Project Linus and it had been distributed to him.

It might not seem like much, but this small act meant so much to me. It was like a crocheter I did not know was reaching out and giving me a hug, or a shoulder to lean on. My father-in-law is always hot. he kicks the blankets off his feet, but my sister-in-law is one of those tiny people who is always cold, so she used it across her legs today as we sat by his bedside. I was crocheting some squares of my own, but also spent time thinking about what my next “giving back” project should be.

If you have ever made anything and donated it, this post is to tell you that it really does mean something. It is a true comfort to the person or people who receive it. I have always been on the giving end of the cycle, but today, being on the getting end really meant so much to me.

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