The Grandma Who Made My Son’s New Sweater

The Grandma Who Made My Son’s New Sweater

My mother-in-law just sent the most gorgeous handmade sweater for my 17-month-old Yaakov.

Here’s a photo of the sweater my dear MIL bought in a second-hand store in Kingston, Ontario, where she lives. I especially adore the carefully knitted teddy bears with matching panda buttons.
sweater

Looking at this sweater, I imagine the devoted Canadian grandmother who spent so many hours knitting this sweater, her love for her new grandchild poured into every stitch, every teddy bear, every carefully-chosen panda button.

And then one day, I imagine, that baby grew up, and his mother packed up the sweater and gave it away. And if the grandmother saw that sweater packed up and ready to be shipped out, how could she not feel a twinge of sadness?

So much love poured into that sweater, and what would happen to it now? Would it sit in the store unsold because nobody liked it? Would it be considered low quality and thrown into the big dumpster in the alley?

And that grandmother has absolutely no idea that the sweater that was the expression of so much love has ultimately found its way to the Holy City.

And she has no idea how much we, it’s new owners, love this sweater (I even wrote a blog post about it!)

And she has no idea how nearly unbearably adorable Yaakov looks in it as he stomps around the house grinning and clapping his hands and busying himself with his 17-month-old mischief.

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An act of kindness.

A word of Torah.

A prayer.

A mitzah.

Throw the smallest stone in the water.

A ripple starts.

Rings of water that spread and spread.

And like that Canadian grandmother, you will never ever know just how far:)

11 comments

  1. This was an especially meaningful post to me as we are seriously downsizing. I’ve been praying that others will get joy, warmth and comfort from the baby blankets, jackets and beloved books and toys that we are giving away instead of their being relegated to the dumpster.

    I love your site. I made it my home page so that I can start my day on an upbeat note. Thanks for all your effort.

  2. Chana Jenny, I second the comment above. Your blog is my inspiration shot, it touches my Neshama and gives me Koach. May you be blessed for all the good you spread!

  3. the sweater looks so nice and cozy warm. yaakov should wear it in good health!

  4. I’m always inspired by your blog too! Thanks for all the time and effort you invest in it.

  5. Oh ditto! Favorite blog ever!

    (Best part is, I’m in it a few times. I’ve had people come over to me and say, I know you from Jewishmom.com!)

  6. Rachel Fried

    Same here! Love your blog, definately a big part of my week and I probably reference you a few times a week in conversation with other people. Please continue to inspire and share!!

  7. Same to me ! You are definitely part of my daily life; you and rabbi BrodΓ½s blog are the pillars of my daily life and what supported me to make alyah a few months ago!! I think time has come to organize a meeting of jewish moms…..

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