I’ve always been fascinated by quilts; especially hand-stitched ones. My grandmothers and great-grandmothers were excellent seamstresses, which means I’ve been the recipient of their labors. The beauty of the outside (or top) of the quilt only reveals part of the story; the culmination of their time and efforts. The countless hours, days, weeks, and months of hard work are best represented by the knots and cuts that you generally don’t see. For years I’ve found the correlation to my life to be fascinating. And I’ve even been asked to speak using these same topics or themes of “tapestry” and my life.
Someone approached me and said something like, “I really enjoy watching, hearing, and learning from you. You just seem to ‘have it all together'”. Girlfriend, let me tell you something right now. I’m the farthest thing from “having it all together” that you have EVER seen. And I’m about to tell the whole world. (I think I just puked in my mouth.)
I was approached by a publishing company about the possibility of writing a book. Now I’ve joked for years that I was going to write a book one day. (I even wrote down the title almost 20 years ago.) But like so many other things in life, it was just something I talked about. I honestly never dreamed that it might become a reality. Apparently, the quilt blocks of my life are about to start showing the knots and cuts.
While I attempt to sort out the memories in my mind, I find myself pausing to smile. I genuinely have so much to be grateful for. Each moment on my outline that is stretched across my office floor holds happy and sad in the same block. I find myself longing for simplicity that’s long gone. I can smell the air at the farm, I can hear the record playing in the living room, and I can see the supper table full of so many amazing things (like fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, a stack of white bread). I can feel the texture of grandma’s couch (Davenport if you’re old enough LOL) and I can taste the chocolate chip cookies.
This particular quilt was made by my great-grandma, Anna Keith. It isn’t perfect; not even close. That basically sums up my life ~ not perfect; not even close. But as I begin to look back at each piece and remember, I’m in awe of a God who takes even the pieces that weren’t cut straight and somehow makes them fit. I’ve given him plenty of stained blocks. (I’m seriously REALLY good at that.) So I’ll be completely relying on Him to do what He does best. In obedience, I’ll follow each block and trust that He’s creating this masterpiece that tells the story of a life with many cuts and knots. But a life that displays His goodness, His faithfulness, and His trustworthiness.
Colossians 2:2 ~ I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God’s great mystery. (The Message Translation)
Go for it! 😘