Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.
Before you were born, I consecrated you.
Jeremiah 1:5
Welcome to the Grace Threads of Love Chapter in Columbia, TN. Our chapter makes burial gowns and prayers for the grieving families whose little angels don't make it. For a parent holding a dying baby, sorrow is often overwhelming. Life isn't supposed to end before it's really had a chance to start. In those moments, even the strongest have their faith tested. Comfort can come to these families in the form of small gowns lovingly made for these tiny babies. The tiny clothing is designed to fit infants ranging from several ounces to full term. These gowns cover up a lot of the medical equipment so that the parents get to see their baby looking great. Sometimes, the parents keep the gowns as a keepsake; sometimes, the babies are buried in them. Through this ministry we can learn that the loss of an infant leaves a mother and her family in need of being nurtured and it is important to put a closure to this loss. When a baby dies, all the choices for the parents have been taken away. If they had just one choice, it would be for their baby to live. We can't change what happens to these little babies, but we can make a difference by reaching out to those families at a heart-breaking time in their lives. Sometimes the only choice these families get to have is to pick out a gown for their tiny little one. Our hope is that the little gowns help to soften their loss in some small quiet way that says "Someone cares about your loss." Most mothers will keep the bonnet or blanket as a reminder of their little one and it enables them to find comfort in their loss and begin the healing process.
Threads of Love is also committed to serving the needs of mothers of premature babies. Diaper shirts, caps, blankets, lovie doll and a prayer are furnished to the NICU at hospitals. The diaper shirts help to cover up a lot of the medical equipment that surrounds their baby and allows parents to see their baby looking great. This means a lot for the parents of those preemies that have an extended hospital stay. New parents can’t wait to bring home their newborn. But for premature babies trying to get healthy, their ‘home’ becomes the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The NICU environment is very sterile and parents often can’t hold their newborn because their baby’s health is very fragile. They sit by their child’s side for hours on end, wondering when they will be able to hold their newborn. Tiny diaper sets give the parents a little normalcy in an environment where they don't feel like 'real' parents because they're not able to care for their babies themselves. It means so much for the parents to see their babies dressed up like "real" babies. These gowns help to bring a sense of comfort to the families as they work thru their grief process.
The Columbia Chapter of Threads of Love is a ministry of the Women of Grace. We service the Maury Regional Medical Center in Columbia, TN. It’s not necessary to know how to sew, there are many jobs within the Threads of Love Ministry. If you can count to five, we can use you - there is a place for everyone, all you need is a willing & loving heart to participate.
We currently meet the 1st Saturday of each month at Grace Church of the Nazarene in Columbia, TN. Anyone in the Columbia area is welcome to be a part of our Threads of Love Chapter. If you would like more information about our meetings, please contact me.
For those who are in other areas or states, you can go to www.threadsoflove.org and find the nearest Threads of Love chapter in your area.
E-mail the Columbia, TN Chapter of Threads of Love HERE
Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.
Before you were born, I consecrated you.
Jeremiah 1:5
There are three things that remain: faith, hope and love: and the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
