The Wedding Gown
My seamstress mother sewed dresses and wedding gowns for
family and friends. These dresses were
so beautiful. As a little girl, I always wanted to “help.” She allowed me to help by removing the
pins. I felt I contributed to this beautiful wedding gown.
As I grew older, she taught me how to sew my own
clothing. They were simple things but I
made them myself—mostly shorts and pajamas—nothing fancy to be worn outside the
house. My first big project was sewing
my school uniforms which consisted of a pleated skirt and a sailor midi top. Yes, this was in the 60s. Being a uniform, it
looked just like all the outfits other students were wearing.
Because of my petite size, commercial garments were too
large for me. By sewing clothes for
myself, I had something unique. I didn’t
have to look like I was wearing my big sister’s clothing. Upon moving from home after college, My
mother gave me her portable Singer sewing machine as a “must have.”
For my wedding, we sewed my bridal and bridesmaids' gown. As we shopped for fabric and patterns I
had memories of the wedding gowns she sewed years earlier. This one was unique for my big day. It wasn’t
just a beautiful wedding gown, it was one I made myself.
In my early career as a musician, I didn't have a product
to show or keep like a painting or sculpture.
Unless the performance was committed to tape or video, it would be gone
when the sound dissipated. No matter how
great or inspired the performance was, it evaporated never to be reproduced
exactly the same.
While sewing I can get lost in the process for hours creating
simple garments, pillowcases, and decorations.
I get such joy out of creating a finished product. Besides clothing for myself, I enjoy sewing clothing for my grandchildren, Superman capes for Vacation Bible School,
Halloween costumes, and skirts for Tanzanian orphans. The tools and gadgets available
today are fantastic for making sewing much easier and even more enjoyable. When
my eyesight lost its acuity, I bought a sewing machine with an automatic needle
threader. How fantastic is that!
Reworking an old garment is called alterations and repair. In my work as a prayer counselor, I often put the pieces of
people’s broken lives back together. I
meet fractured souls torn by life’s adverse events. Some need guidance on recovering the pieces of
their lives and fitting them together. Rejoining them through prayer is like sewing them into a new
garment or maybe a new wineskin. They can have a spiritual wedding gown for a new beginning.
