My little boys’ knees are peeking through a good number of pants these days.  With so much to do it has been more than a bit tempting to just toss them.  I can get more at the thrift store.  Still it seems so wasteful.  The jeans are all in very good shape otherwise.  The seams are tight, the fabric is still thick and strong in all the other places. The pockets are intact. My conscience tells me to make the time to sit with needle and thread and mend those tears.  I know we will be rewarded with a whole new look and a rejuvenated wardrobe. With that resolve I am gathering these distressed items and making a little time each day to plug away at it.

As I sew I am reminded of a dear friend who is struggling in her marriage. There is a big tear in the once intact fabric of their lives, a gaping hole for all the world to see their private pain. It is so hard. It is tempting to just toss the mess and start fresh with a new ‘wardrobe’. Still, a lot of time and energy has been vested in their family. She committed for better or for worse. She is mending.

We live in a replacement society. We like ‘new’. We don’t like to show any sign of wear. The truth is, though, that there are weak spots in everything in our lives. We must make decisions when they reveal themselves.  We can shore up or we can ditch. In our age, ditching is the more frequent choice.

The irony is that it is often stronger at patched places. There we have an extra layer of protection. We have reinforced the edges and created a barrier of sorts to ward off future assaults. Why are we so reluctant to take the time to plug away at it?  Because it is a lot of work.  Because it hurts. Because the world tells us it is easier to replace people and things. And finally, because there is a huge stigma towards wearing patches even if they do make our garments stronger. The reveal the places where our holes were.

As I pray for her I pray for myself and everyone I love. I pray for us all to have the fortitude to tackle both the tiny, straight tears and the big, jagged, nasty ones in our lives – for everyone has both, do we not? I pray we also have the courage to hold our heads high while wearing our patches.  Remember, we are strongest at our mended places.