The Quilt
(re-posted by request)
Peach and Blessings All,
Yesterday, I finally started to pack my winter clothes away in the basement. While looking for an empty storage bin, I came across a quilt that my father-in-law had hand sewn. Don’t laugh, my father-in-law, who I affectionately called Mr. Headrick (he in turn called me his favorite daughter-in-law), was a strong-minded man with a manly presence. And he sewed just like many men of Africa where the making of clothing is the males’ responsibility. Now back to the story. As I pulled the 50 lb. quilt out of the bin, I slipped down memory lane.
Historians say that the art of quilting has been around for centuries. Some say it originated in China and Egypt simultaneously while others link quilting to Japan. History also reflects varies uses for quilts such as, Knights who wore quilted pieces of material under their metal armor for added comfort, warmth and protection from flesh wounds. And I would be remiss if I did not mention that many African American families have handed down folklore about their ancestors who used secret codes hidden within quilt patterns to guide them to escape routes that led to the Underground Railroad. With all that said, I would be willing to bet that quilting was originated via frugal women and men from all over the world who gathered left-over scraps of fabric and pieces of worn out clothing to sew them together to create new garments and coverings for their families.
Back down memory lane…
When I was growing up, my grandparents lived in a drafty two-story brick home located in Gum Tree, Virginia. There was no central heat or kerosene heaters , just two wood burning stoves. During the day those two stoves kept the entire house warm, sometimes even hot. However, there was a drastic change in the temperature at night; the fire would die down because no one was adding wood and stirring the fire. In order to keep us warm during the night, my grandmother would place several blankets on the bed with the outermost covering being one of those heavy handmade quilts. Needless to say I would not be able to move. But as I remember I did not just sleep, I rested and in the morning I did not want to come from under that covering.
If I am honest, initially I didn’t want my grandmother to put those heavy covers on me – it was very difficult to move throughout the night. Perhaps that is why so many couples don’t want God’s covering on their marriages. They are scared that their marriages will be too restrictive. Do you recognize that God has a covering for your marriage whether you like it or not? Have we forgotten that His word tells us to let marriage be held in honor among all (Hebrews 13). Why is it that so many times we do not heed God’s warning of not separating what He has joined together (Matthew 9:6)? My grandmother covered me up at night because she loved me and she wanted to protect me from the cold. God wants to cover our marriages. He wants to be the one who keeps the fire burning in our homes. Will you let Him?
Challenge:
Image via Wikipedia
Seek God’s refuge for your marriage. Under His covering your marriage will be a warm comfortable place where your marriage covenant will always be protected. Just like at my grandparent’s house, you and your spouse will not want to come from under this covering.
Peace be unto you,
