Sharing the Savior’s Story

Gift of Great Value

I heard a wonderful sermon from a Fort Wayne pastor, Reverend Arnie Piering. With his permission, I will relate what he said, as it was shared: “In my closet hangs a sweater that I seldom wear. It's too small. The sleeves are too short, the shoulders too tight. Some of the buttons are missing and the thread is frazzled. I should throw the sweater away. I have no use for it. I'll never wear it again. Logic says that I should clear out the space in my closet and get rid of the sweater.

“That's what logic says. But love won’t let me. Something unique about that sweater makes me keep it. What's so unusual about it? For one thing, it has no label. Nowhere will you find a tag that reads, ‘Made in Taiwan,’ or ‘Rinse in cold water.’ It has no tag, because it wasn't made in a factory. It has no label, because it wasn't produced on an assembly line. It isn’t the product of a nameless employee; it’s the creation of a devoted mother who was expressing her love. The sweater is unique, one of a kind! It can’t be replaced. Each strand was chosen with care. Each thread was selected with affection. And though the sweater has lost all of its use, it has lost none of its value. It’s valuable not because of its function, but because of its maker.”

Excerpt from The Lutheran Hour broadcast of: December 28, 2003