Teatime Tuesday~ Holes In My Quilt

Welcome to my new series: Teatime Tuesday. 

For the love of tea and mugs and a bit of conversation, whether it be my thoughts, prayers or just about my unraveling, beautifully broken life. I'd love to take you with me on my personal journey in this life...to be raw and real and share with you what's on my patchworked heart, I am just another broken person walking this road with you all, even if it's a different path, My faith, happiness, joys, pains, sorrows and struggles are just as real as the next guy's. 

My favorite quote by Augusten Burroughs sums me up well: 

" I myself am made entirely of flaws, stitched together with good intentions".   

I'm not perfect (surprise, surprise) lol!!! and though it may seem like I have a sugar coated life through my pictures and some of my posts here on my blog. I will confess...I have a story and a life that is not always a bowl full of cherries. I fight battles everyday with others and the enemy. I am a Christian....I just want you to know because of this fact and my faith in Jesus that I do not think or ever have claimed to be perfect or ever mean to come off better than others. I will be the first to tell you I am not better than anyone. There are some people in my life who think this of me because I am a Christian...I have been wrongfully judged on many occasions. It is funny but not really that funny that people think just because someone is Christian, it's assumed or stereotyped that they should be perfect or act a certain way. 

Being a Christian does not mean we are perfect and righteous...No one is perfect: all people sin and make mistakes all the time, yes, even Christians! It means we are broken sinful people who need a Savior, and that is just what I need on a daily basis. I am so grateful that my God gives me grace and forgives me when others are unable to forgive. That is all that really matters. My personal relationship with Christ is in good standing and I trust in Him with all my life in His hands. I also know that as a Christian, I will be judged by others and even persecuted just as my God was. And that is alright. I am learning everyday as my relationship with Him grows: He gives me the strength to be bold and brave and stand up tall and walk in confidence to the foot of the cross, then brings me to my knees in worship to Him.

Holes In My Quilt

*****

As I faced my Maker…at the time of judgment

I knelt…in front of my Lord…with others there… along side of me.

In the distance hanging… on golden lines

Quilts…some as beautiful as beautiful could ever be. 

My pile of squares now lay in front of me

As an Angel… took each piece to sew.

But mine were quite ragged and lacking color

And filled… with giant holes.

Each piece had written… labels on them

Indicating parts of my life…that had been difficult.

The challenges and temptations…I faced everyday in my life

Each one now…the Angel took.

I glanced around…and no one else had squares like mine

Other than a tiny hole… here and there.

Threadbare and filled with holes

Was mine… as I gazed upon each square.

Finally the time came when each life was displayed

Held up to…Heaven’s holy light.

The scrutiny of the truth…

In each viewed…tapestry

Those faded…ragged patches… of my life.

My gaze dropped to the ground in shame

Of all earthly fortunes… had.

Yet love and good health… were some of mine remembered

Which made me feel proud… and yet so sad? 

I had spent many a night… on my knees

Asking God for guidance in my life.

To muster up the strength I needed

To be a better servant…a better mother…a more loving wife.

While I stood and lifted…the combined squares of my life to the light

The light filtered through each hole 

There viewed was the face of Jesus Christ.

For all present to behold.

Then our Lord stood before me

With warmth and love in His eyes.

“Every time you gave your life over to me… my child

Each point of light…was when you stepped aside.”

“Allowing my light to shine through 

Until there was more of me… than you.”

May all God’s children’s quilts… be filled with holes

Allowing the light of Jesus Christ… to shine on through.

By: Linda Winchell

2009

I love this poem. As a quilt collector...I have rescued many old quilts that are tattered and torn that most people wouldn't want. It makes me think of my life being like a quilt all torn, tattered, soiled and unwanted by many... But God wants me to come to Him this very way. I am content the way I am and will let the Lord shine through all my holes until 

that day comes when He makes me whole again. 

There is just something beautiful about the quilts I have collected, even the quilts that have been unfinished. All the different colors and textures, prints and sizes, while some are vibrant and some are faded or some in great condition and a number of them completely ruined...There is still a beauty about them just as they are. What a beautiful picture of a persons life...Each square sewn together by hand with much love in every stitch. My life is like that...The one who has sewn my quilt with those loving stitches is the Lord. I just love that!!!

Here is another precious poem about a quilt and life. 

Just delightful!

***

A Quilt Poem by Mildred Hatfield

******

It's more than a coverlet, 

More than a spread

This beautiful quilt 

That graces my bed.

 It's laughter and sorrow,

It's pleasure and pain,

It's bits and pieces

Of sunshine and rain.

It's a bright panorama

Of scraps of my life~

It's moments of glory,

It's moments of strife.

It's a story I cherish

Of days that have been.

It's a door I can open

To live them again

Yes, It's more than a cover,

This much~treasured quilt,

It's parts pieced together

Of the life I have built.

Thank you for joining me for the first installation of Teatime Tuesday....Some posts might be heavier than others and some will be lighthearted too...Hope to see you here again soon!

May all your quilts be threadbare and worn,

allowing Christ to shine through!!!