Mary Tatem - Quilt of Faith: Stories of Comfort from the Patchwork Life

Text 2004 by Mary Tatem

Illustrations 2004 by Kevin Ingram

Published by Revell

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.revellbooks.com

Previously published in 2004 under the title Beautiful Threads

E-book edition created 2011

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

ISBN 978-1-4412-1430-0

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Scripture marked KJV is taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

To my children

Joe, Becky, Andy, and Matthew

who form beautiful threads in the fabric of the future

and provide my life with encouragement and joy.

Introduction

Between the Stitches

In the making of a quilt, how distracted I can be, basting stitches, pinning together pieces, tying up all the loose, colorful threads. Its enough detail work to make anyone lose sight of the beautiful result.

Isnt that just like life?

The daily grind, chores, events, personalities, and demands we face any given day or season can make us lose sight of Gods beautiful design.

Yet we are his workmanship, the Scriptures tell us (Eph. 2:10). God created us with more enthusiasm than the most excited quilter ever experienced when piecing just the right scraps into a stunning new coverlet. With infinite tenderness, God is busy at work, taking whats frayed here or worn there and creating something new, beautiful, and purposeful. Beyond all the details in our process of living, this Craftsman has his eye on a beautiful designa perfect pattern and plan for you, me, and every one of his creaturesif only we have the eyes to see.

Think of this book, then, as one offering you a step back from the piecework of your lifeas something to wrap up in when you need an encouraging break or bright perspective. This collection, based on true stories, centered on a dozen of the most popular patterns in America, will remind you that God weaves beautiful threads around us every dayand always relentlessly, tirelessly. He is, after all, a most focused father and friend.

While youre sure to recognize the designs featured here, the names might sometimes surprise you. The same quilt pattern can be called different names in various regions of the world and eras of history. This, too, relates a spiritual truth. The names of the roles God calls us to perform are not as important as the beauty of the design hes creating in each life; he appreciates the seed of his design in each of us, even when were unable to recognize it.

Its a good reminder as you read these reflections for quilting and for your spiritual life: The work of God in us is not yet finished.

Grandmothers Flower Garden

Sometimes called Mosaic, the Grandmothers Flower Garden pattern became a favorite in magazines, which published its directions as early as 1835. The pattern gets its name from blending lighter-shaded pieces with progressively deeper-colored ones until voila! a flower bed seems to appear in full bloom. Since a finished quilt can consist of thousands of hexagons, and some seamstresses cut their pieces as tiny as five-eighths of an inch, the pattern truly becomes a showpiece.

Its the same way with our lives, isnt it? The light and dark colors of our life experiences blend subtly but artfully in the hands of the one with the master pattern, until finally they burst into spectacular blooms. In this section, a German schoolboy, a damaged heirloom, a Valentines Day surprise, and a box of buttons form stories that reveal the varied hues we find weaving through all of our livesand the beauty that can arise, with Gods skillful guidance, from each one.

Nimble Fingers

I dont want to take knitting and sewing. Otto stood beside his teachers desk, clenched fists on his hips.

That doesnt matter, Otto. The school system requires all ten-year-olds to learn knitting and sewing. Mrs. Wagners eyes twinkled at the same time she frowned at Otto.

But why? Boys dont need to sew and knit. Girls do that. Please, Mrs. Wagner, none of us boys wants to sew.

Our German government has made these skills a requirement for years and years.

But this is 1960. Now boys run big machines. Otto bent over the desk.

When you grow up, you may need to sew on your buttons.

Ill get married, and my Frau will do that.

I thought you wanted to be a doctor, Mrs. Wagner said, patting his fist. Did you know that surgeons knit, quilt, and embroider to improve their fine-muscle coordination, which makes them more skilled in surgery?

Maybe I wont be a doctor after all, Otto responded with a pout. Maybe Ill move to America. Ill bet American boys dont sew in school.

In Germany, we want our boys to be well rounded with well-developed fine-muscle skills.

I dont want to be well rounded. Otto patted his tummy.

Regardless, this year we learn knitting and sewing. You may as well decide to enjoy it.

Otto wasnt mollified. On his way home from school, he detoured his bicycle to his family doctors office.

I quilt to unwind from the tensions of my job and to keep my fingers nimble for surgery, Dr. Bogart confirmed. Do you want to see my work?

Dr. Bogart led Otto back to his office. This wasnt the room Otto saw when he went to Dr. Bogart for stitches in his knees or pills for his sore throat. Hanging on the wall was a large quilt made of thousands of hexagons arranged in colorful rings, ranging from light to dark blues.

You didnt make that, did you? Otto couldnt contain his surprise.

I did, and Im very proud of it. The pattern is called Grandmothers Flower Garden, and it requires precision to get those six sides to match up properly with all the other hexagons. Dr. Bogart traced the outline of one flower with his finger. Dont be fooled, young man. Men, with their geometric instincts, do a superior job of piecing the kind of quilt patterns that require careful measuring, cutting, and matching.

It looks nice, Otto admitted.

Sure does, but when I first started to learn, I couldnt have done such a large project. I grew more skilled as I practiced. Its the same with anything in life, especially doctoring. If you want to do something well, you start with small steps, practice, and apply yourself until you become more proficient. Our German schools do a good job of training young people. Be thankful for your school years.

I want to be a doctor.

Then learn every one of your school subjects well, Dr. Bogart said and shook Ottos hand. Sewing among them!