Different Kinds of Quilters

My mother, Rose, was an amazing homemaker.

She not only cooked nutritious meals, made bread and noodles, canned, gardened, cleaned, and did laundry but also was very gifted at sewing and quilting. My twin sister and I were fortunate to be the recipients of the outfits she created for us.

When she finished a dress, coat, blouse, or skirt, she always kept the remnant fabric. With these, she pieced together a memory quilt by hand with a flower garden pattern. We could look at this quilt and remember each beautiful outfit and the occasion for which she had made it. She shared her gift with us and others.

As I contemplated my mother’s gift of quilting, I realized that we are all “quilters” of some sort. A writer pieces together words to express ideas.

A doctor or nurse may take specimens to gather healing information. A cook likes to take scraps of ingredients here and there to create a new recipe.

A pharmacist mixes a prescription of compounds to produce a new drug. A teacher puts together a lesson plan to present a concept to the students.

A meteorologist gathers information from the atmosphere and its phenomena to predict the upcoming weather. God has given all of us gifts.

The Bible states, “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift” (Ephesians 4:7, NKJV). Some are called to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers. These are not all-encompassing titles.

God can use our gifts, be what they may, in many ways to stitch and bind His message to those around us. As Christians the Bible tells us to be “zealous for spiritual gifts” and to use them to edify, teach, and build up one another (1 Corinthians 14:12, NKJV). I may not be able to quilt as my mother did, but I enjoy “quilting words together” to express to others what amazing things the Lord has done in my life. What kind of quilter are you? How could you use your gifts to help create unity, knowledge, and a loving spirit in those around you? If you are unsure, ask the Lord to show you the gifts He has given you, and then use them to His glory.

Karen M. Phillips