How to Quilt a Beautiful Life

“I think it’s hard because we’re just patch-working trying to make it all work.” The words rolled off my tongue with much-too-much ease as my husband and I labored through our predictable weekly rhythm of figuring out schedules, childcare, meetings, and meals. His subtle response to the obvious as he put away dishes and called the kids to breakfast before jumping in the shower was,  “Yep.” And so our day began.

I’ve been so aware these last few weeks of my temptation to just patch the holes in my life rather than looking at the whole. Currently, there are holes in our schedule, holes in our behavior (the kids’ as well as mine), holes in my rest, even holes in my pantry! Patchwork focuses on the next most important hole, not the whole.

Feeling the tension from the morning conversation with him, I was acutely aware of the holes. I walked upstairs to grab the dirty laundry baskets and get in a quick workout. As I began to unwind on the elliptical, I could see into my son’s bedroom. A mess for later, I tried to convince myself as I looked around at the scattered toys, pillows, boots, stuffed animals, and his quilt. I focused on the rhythm of the machine and reminded myself, I’ll get to it. My attention was drawn to a quilt rack I’d recently moved. Three quilts, each precious gifts from my grandmother on  our wedding day, were neatly on display.

I was taken by how many quilts I could see from the elliptical that morning. I’d never noticed it before. Considering my heavy and not-so-meaningful conversation on patchwork with my spouse, I couldn’t help but be amused. I looked at the quilts, and all I could see were patches. The simple squares came together to hide the rough edges, the simple top-stitch meticulously placed held them all together. Each stitch was part of the pattern that made the quilt beautiful, each pattern different from the others. Quilting, after all, is layers of fabric held in place by design.

As I looked at the quilts with fresh eyes, I realized the significance of the layers, the design, the individual patches, the holes, all the work involved. Each piece was no less significant than the rest, each simple stitch crucial to the design.

In Psalm 90, we are reminded of God’s faithfulness from everlasting to everlasting. The psalmist beckons God to teach us and satisfy our heart with his love and wisdom as he closes in a seemingly desperate plea to establish the work of our hands–every stitch. In the psalmist’s words, I find great hope and courage to see anew the holes, the patches, the many layers of our lives and the meticulous hand-work each stitch requires…all part of the beauty and design.

The patchwork happening in my life right now is the hard work of quilting, each stitch blistering my fingers and my spirit as I learn to sow generously. Sow peace and patience. Sow character and discipline. Sow love and joy. Sow them all generously, putting them together in a beautiful design like the pieces of a quilt coming together to make a whole. With each patch selected in faith and each stitch sewn with trust, we display hope in God’s greater design for our lives.

Let us remember 2 Corinthians 9:6-8: “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

[Tweet “May we do the hard work and sow generously with our lives, quilting a beautiful design.”]

With southern roots in both Texas and Tennessee, Abbie Gristy loves sharing life with family and friends and is happiest surrounded by her husband and three strong and sweet kids. Passionate about making the most of every moment of life, she’s an avid reader, adequate cook, want-to- be runner and loves organizing and re-organizing!