I have vivid recollections of what I was doing when quarantine began in March 2020. My family stayed home, we watched movies, cooked, and baked…a lot, did our school and church work and I spent time with my fabric. I am a quilter. Bringing together pieces of fabric to create a quilt brings my heart great joy. Now that I was forced to be home, I used my time to organize my “stash.” One of my goals was to cut my various fabric scraps into different sized squares to use in future projects. I took each remnant of fabric and pressed the creases and wrinkles which disappeared with the pressure of the iron. The steam creates fresh, smooth sections of the fabric that I placed into neat piles. After pressing, I began to make 2.5, 4, and 5-inch squares and placed them in separate containers, dreaming about the projects that were yet to come.
I am not a quilter who attempts intricate patterns (yet), but one of my favorite looks is patchwork. There is a simplicity and comfort with patchwork. It reminds me of the quilts that my grandmother made. They were heavy, worn quilts that had a faint mothball smell, but kept you warm on the coldest of nights. After moving from Texas to New Mexico in July, I decided to use my squares.
Each piece of fabric in my stash has a story. They are pieces from previous projects, some are material I just bought because I liked it with no plan, and other pieces are from my friends who passed down material. I made a quilt titled, “Corona Madness.” Straight rows of patchwork and all the squares are from the beginning of quarantine. The pieces on the back are from my friends Gary and Sean who brought me material from their year in Africa, and the batting and label I had on hand.
While this quilt is a reminder of our time living in the age of COVID-19, I see an even bigger message. From the leftovers that had no purpose, I took these pieces and made something beautiful. From the craziness of my stash that had no organization while stored, consisted of materials that did not match, have textures that are different, a redemptive piece was created.
This quilt is a lesson that I am taking to heart because I want to come out of our COVID-19 era and be a better person…a different person (I have not been directly affected (medically) by the virus or know of someone who has lost their life due to COVID, so this perspective is easier for me. Please understand that I do not mean to gloss over the devastation this virus has caused so many people in our world). But for me, it is a firm reminder.
COVID-19 reminds me of the importance of family. I will never take hugging my oldest son for granted again…it has been too long.
COVID-19 reminds me that I need to give deep, profound thanks for being in a profession that allows me to maintain my pay and benefits and the ability to work remotely…so many have lost everything.
COVID-19 gives me new eyes to see the medically fragile in my congregation and community. I will work to put my feet in their shoes.
COVID-19 pushes me to practice the art of compassion. I encounter essential workers that do not have the luxury of working from home, the least I can do is be pleasant and grateful.
My list is endless, and I hope that you have a similar list as well.
May we all come out on the other side of this pandemic with new hearts that are open and accepting. May we pause before speaking and acting with immediate reactions that may be less than honorable. May we work even harder to love our neighbors well.
And may we remember that out of the craziness that the beautiful can exist.
Today I Am Thankful For:
- St. Paul’s UMC
- Puppies
- A tender, slow-cooked roast on a Sunday afternoon
- Fall mums
- Potting soil
