My knitting book warned me very clearly that this would happen. “YOU MUST ALWAYS MAKE A GAUGE SWATCH!” the authors exclaimed. A knitter should know that before you begin work on any pattern, you must make a swatch to find out if your stitches are the same size as those of the author who wrote the pattern. If your stitches are larger or smaller than the pattern author’s, then you will switch needle sizes in order to get the same stitch as the author’s, and thus, achieve the pattern’s desired result. Consequently, the knitter must heed the rule: “Always knit a gauge swatch…always!”

Did I listen? No. I wanted to knit a new hat for Carl, and I wanted him to have a new hat now. I couldn’t be bothered to make a swatch. My needles were poised and my newly-purchased yarn was calling to me. It was my day off, and it was cold out. Why would I do anything to prolong the pleasure of this experience? I dove right into the project without taking that important first step.

Well…you can guess what happened to the hat. This picture of Carl with his new headpiece doesn’t really do it justice. In the picture, the hat is just barely propped on top of his head…but the hat really covers his eyes and nose when pulled down snugly. The hat was supposed to fit a 3-6 month old, but the hat actually fits ME quite nicely. I guess I’ll have to knit him another one next Monday…and I’ll use smaller-sized needles, of course. But not before taking that all-important first step: making a gauge swatch!

Sometimes we want to dive into projects without taking the necessary first steps. Imagine trying to run a half-marathon without any training. Or building a house without laying a proper foundation. Jesus said: “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock…but everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Mt 7)

When our lives are patterned by the Word of God, they come out as they should be, even when we face trials and troubles. Throughout it all, God’s word gives us faith, strength, and hope; and we remember that we never face anything alone. May we always welcome God’s word into our lives by honoring the Sabbath, and setting aside time for daily devotion. Sometimes we neglect God’s word, and let other priorities have their way with our time. Somehow it seems easier to let God down then to let down others around us. But spending time in the Word of God should be our first priority, so that our faith does not unravel in this busy, crazy world. Taking in the word of God is a necessary first step to a life that is worth living. And we pray that the Holy Spirit will put God’s teachings in our heart so that we may live as God would have us live in this world.

For daily devotion helps, pick up a "Christ in our Home" devotional booklet in the back of the church. Or visit our website: www.stpeterdelphos.org, to check out a daily devotion online. As for weekly worship...well, you know where to find us.