A LIFE QUILT

“When life gives you scraps . . . make a quilt.” I’d seen that message on the bag a lady at our church carries many times before, but yesterday, a thought came to mine. How many of us focus on the quilt block and not the quilt?

If a day goes badly, I’ve heard people say, “My life is nothing but misery.” The next moment may bring joy, but the person allows the darker times to cloud their perception of their entire life.

Study a beautifully designed quilt. The black of sorrow brings the marvelous contrast of joy beside a block of white. The dreariness of brown makes the creamy milk of life sparkle. And, the red of injury is made beautiful by a neighboring block of green and the promise of Christmas is remembered.

A life lived joyously is one focused on the quilt not the individual blocks. A life lived with hope is one that knows that the dark squares are there to bring out the magnificent jeweled tones of the lighter ones. A life lived reverently, is one that displays your quilt as a whole, a work of art, stitched by the hand of God. Let us pray:

“Oh master needle artist, you stitch our lives beautifully. You give us blocks that are dark, so we can appreciate the bright ones. Unless we are willing to accept the dark squares as beautiful, we will never appreciate our entire Life Quilt. We ask that you allow us to see our disappointments and sorrows as opportunities to hold your hand more tightly, so we can walk through the valley of darkness to the brighter hills of joy. Forgive us when we blame you for our sorrows, rather than praise you for your guiding light through the shadows. Too often, we see life as something happening to us, rather than a willing journey on a path ever leading us home. We know the needle can hurt, Father. Give us the ability to see the quilt and not the block in front of us. Our participation, is in choosing which blocks are not acceptable, while choice is still possible. When we don’t have the ability to choose which blocks make up our Life Quilt, let us learn to select a bright one to place beside the pain. May our Life Quilt be a joy to your eyes, Father God. In the name of Jesus Christ, your son and our redeemer, we pray. Amen”
Doris
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
Copyright 2011 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.