The Tattered Quilt

Piece by piece each remnant of cloth is stitched lovingly together. Some of the squares are made from tattered garments worn over time while others are cut from fresh cloth new from the store. The stitches that weave them together are placed appropriately in order to bind them together in a pattern known only to the Quilter. Slowly the artistic pattern takes shape. Its colors as varied as the Maker intends.

The quilt brings warmth to all who know it. They are comforted by its softness and at times amazed at its beauty and its complexity. As the years go by new patches are added and some are replaced. And still the Quilter keeps the pattern intact. There are patches that are taken from one quilt and moved to another but the common threads do not change. Even still are times when the Maker takes a patch and places it within His own quilt adding to its loveliness - a welcome addition to those that have been there before. Those patches leave gaping holes in the original quilt never to be replaced.

The Quilter knows that these holes exist. He knows that no material can be used that will fill the gap and He knows that the threads that once held that patch must now stretch in order to meet the ones left behind. It is that stretching of the threads which brings pain to the quilt. Some threads don't stretch as far as they must and the Maker adds reinforcements. At times He clips away the strands that no longer are used or are no longer able to bear its tension.

The quilt changes over time but is always the work of the Maker. Each piece is sewn in place by His grand design. It is His creation and His to keep - it is only ours to feel its warmth.