Quilt of Life

Well, here she is - my Minnesota Hotdish that I began President's Day weekend. I am loving it. I am not sure if it is gonna end up on my bed or not. The variety of colors, the brightness of the variety just aren't Gene's "way". He tends to like things more toned down. We'll see what happens after I get it quilted. I am hoping that will be the end of this week. I have to get some customer quilts done before I can indulge myself and do one of my own.

Quilts seem, to me, to be a picture of what lives, in general, are. There are over forty different fabrics in this quilt. Some are very pretty standing all alone. Some are less appealing on their own. There are 1,104 pieces in this quilt. Not one is significant all by itself - not one is particularly eye catching all by itself. Yet, when all of them are put together, following the pattern of the designer, the quilt turns out very pretty. Our lives are made up of many different experiences or "quilt pieces". Many are ugly when looked at on their own. Many are wonderful and exciting. As we live, those pieces are put together into the quilts of our lives. Lives that, looked at piece by piece, have their flaws, their disappointments, their hurts and their ugliness. However, our almighty, awesome God is the ultimate designer of the quilts of our lives. He knows how each piece will work together with the others to make a quilt that is not only pleasing to the eye but glorifying to His name. Just as a quilter watches the design come to life in a quilt, the Lord watches the design of our lives come together in a way that is pleasing to Him as we follow His leading. He makes the pattern clear. He is willing to guide us through the entire quilting process. Oh, that we would just follow His leading and His plan.