My Story

If you are new here, this is where my story begins…

God Still Uses the Pieces

Quilting is all about pieces….. Putting many different pieces— different sizes, shapes and colors together so it becomes a beautiful, completed project.

It’s a process….. you pick out a pattern, look for just the right material pieces, cut them all out, and then one block at a time you put them together. Then you baste and ultimately you quilt it, creating an incredible ‘work of art’.

When we are broken, our lives feel like our pieces are all over the place with no order, no purpose…. Just pieces. When we look around we feel like we’re somewhere in the middle of the cutting apart and basting and realizing we’ve done something wrong—or even not wrong… but right— out of order—or at least not in our best interest, so we have to take it apart and start again.

Sometimes we feel like a fragile glass dish —-that has just hit the floor and is in a thousand pieces and —-wonder how in the world we’re going to glue all those pieces back together to make it even resemble what it once was OR—- who WE once were.

But the truth is we aren’t who we once were. We’re changed. Loss and life in general can do that to a person. Sometimes we bring it on ourselves because of bad choices, but other times, it’s just the way of life, the ‘circle of life’ if you will.

But God can use those pieces —-when we allow him. I lost my Charles just over a year ago and my world fell apart. There have been so many “pieces” in this last year that have —frightened me, paralyzed me, left me feeling lost, alone, without clarity, and unable to move forward on so many fronts.

In the middle of all that was —and is —going on, ——the build (a house we started before Charles passed), —-all the specifics relative to being a widow, and even life in general—-God has placed on my heart the desire to help other widows or even others who have lost loved ones—-a child, a parent or grandparent.

This desire to help others grieving is another new piece of my life, that makes me wonder where and ‘how’ this new piece will fit. Again, it’s certainly not something I’d planned. But God knew when Charles was going to pass. He also knew he had a plan for me; to show me that I still had purpose. He would use my pain to help others.

I’ve had the joy of getting to know a lady who lost her husband during COVID. Like me, she is still broken. We had lunch one day and as we chatted the idea of helping other widows became immensely clearer.

He gave me purpose. All these pieces of my shattered life, which are seemingly inter-connected, yet separate, are coming together to make what one day will be a beautiful quilt….a tapestry of different colors, shapes, and sizes of pieces that will in some way further His Kingdom and plan.

And I want nothing more than to honor the call God has given me to serve Him. In this way, again, —— I have purpose.

Still there are days when I feel like life is unraveling. It leaves me feeling like the pile of pieces, as quilters, don’t know what to do with…. Some of the pieces are bright and beautiful, others ares dark or oddly shaped. Some you don’t like and don’t fit anywhere. And some are left over scraps —-you wish you never had.

God has given me the gift of writing which requires taking an idea and then putting many words in some sense of order—hopefully, to create a piece others will want to read.

It’s much like when you put all those beautiful pieces of material together to create a quilt, and in some cases it becomes what some would call a masterpiece.

BUT God has also given me the opportunity to trust in His ability, to put all the shattered, different sized, shaped, and colored pieces of my life in his care. In this place He can create something beautiful, perhaps even what some might someday call a masterpiece.

Just like the quilter who holds every piece of material in her hand with intention, God takes every part of your life, and mine — the frayed fears, the jagged edges, and the moments you’d like to throw away….. together and formats what becomes part of —-and into— “This belongs in the story I’m creating.”

Sometimes a quilt pattern only makes sense when you step back. Up close it looks random and even dysfunctional. Often it looks like it’s only in fragments! But God sees the big picture, the beauty, the balance, the purpose. We may not be able to see the pattern yet, but God does.

I want my life to bring honor to him. If I can do that through my writing, quilting (and yes, my quilting is often a ministry because I gift many of mine to those I’ve been praying for) or in the newest way, through a widow ministry helping another widow get through some really tough times—- and there really are some tough times, then I’m all for that.

I’m grateful for the promises of God, as he continues to put all my pieces together.

And if you feel like your life is nothing more than a scattering of pieces right now, you’re not alone.

This ministry exists because God is still stitching my pieces together —and perhaps… He wants to do the same for you.

More daily encouragement can be found on my Encouragement, Devotions, and About pages, and the facebook page, The Gathering Place .