Over the years I have made many quilts. Most have been given away, some are used on beds or displayed around the house, and some are stored away. I also have quilts and unfinished blocks of my mother’s and my aunts’. These treasures feel like hugs because they are full of memories and love.
Quilting My mother gave me quilt scraps That she wanted me to sew. I stored them in my closet. It was a long time ago. Forgotten in the hustle That family life demands, They stayed there for many years Not in my thoughts or plans. My children grew and left home. Work was a thing of the past. Now I have time, I pondered. I’ll get to that quilt at last. Watching the fabric unfold Brought memories of a girl. Dresses that Mom had made me. I loved to wear them and twirl. Making the patchwork patterns Were lessons in patience and skill. Every stitch was a blessing, Each block a goal to fulfill. I sewed each square together. Ready to put on the frame. Assembled with my aunts’ help Their support I can always claim. Now came time for the quilting. Backing and batting in place. Stretched and ready for sewing I began at a very slow pace. Important to take my time As the stitches became small. Experiencing all the love Every piece seemed to recall. My mother’s quilt scraps took shape, Displayed for all to see. A beautiful picture of her And signed on the back, “Love, Me” Some day you’ll find an old quilt And recall this story I’ve told. Remember to store up your memories, You’ll cherish them when you are old.
Our lives are like contrasting quilt blocks, a block of joy and one of sorrow, one of strength and one of weakness, one of good health and one of illness, one of fear and one of trust, one of youth and one aged. All put together, they show the contrasts that occur in our lives. Let us remember that God is with us in all our circumstances. He takes each one of these pieces and stitches them together to accomplish His perfect will. Bound together in love, our lives are formed to display God’s perfect handiwork and His perfect love, never to be forgotten.