I put a bow on my Christmas preparations this morning…literally. I made bows for the gifts I will be giving in the next days. One of the many skills I was taught by my mother was hand-tying bows. Though I have used stick-on bows, I know in my heart of hearts that no present is complete unless it has a hand-tied bow.
There are essentially three steps to tying a bow. The loops of ribbon are wound and tapered at the ends. The loops are them flattened and tied tight with a thin strip of ribbon (this ribbon strip is also used to attach the completed bow to the package). Finally each loop is pulled out, pinched, and set in place. The bow is complete and, if one is fortunate, beautiful.
The glory of the bow obviously is the loops. However, it is the thin strip of ribbon, which should be invisible, that actually makes the bow possible. The tie in the center holds the bow together and creates the tension that allows the loops to be twisted in place. After the bow is finished, it is the ribbon strips that attach it to the package. The least glamorous part of the bow is in many ways most essential.
Our lives too, even if they are as showy and complex as loops of ribbon, are dependent on “ribbon strips” to hold them together. Whether these strips are the people in our lives,other comforts (sometimes one of my best ribbon strips is a good cup of coffee), or even our own inner convictions, they provide the support we need to function and occasionally to shine.
So my Christmas wish for you this year is that you may have “ribbon strips” to support you, connect you, and to let you shine. Whatever form they may take, and whether they are seen or unseen, may your 2019 be blessed with hidden strength that ties everything together.
Merry Christmas!