The Tapestry

Now that I am an empty nester, I have been reorganizing and decorating my guest rooms. I pulled out a tapestry blanket to display and thought back to the moment in time I received it. The quadruplets had just been born and it was given as a gift for the boys room. I noticed that the back side of the tapestry was a blurred picture of the side I could clearly see. It seemed tangled and chaotic and not fit for display. But, as I turned it over, I was pleased to see a beautiful picture and displayed it with pride for all to see.

In my younger years, I was busy building my career as a teacher and then focused on starting a family, which was no small feat. Once I was blessed with children, I was focused and dedicated to do all I could to raise them with faith, love and a foundation they could stand on their whole life. This was the greatest responsibility and privilege I was given. All through the years I was not even aware of the tapestry I was weaving. All the good and poor choices, successes and failures, joys and sorrows, victories and defeats. My life forward through the years has many twists and turns and reflected many “colors” of life. At times, it seemed that it was just a tangled web and then at times I would see a pattern and a picture forming.

Now, as I get older, I am not only aware of the tapestry, but can even see the picture more clearly. Maybe it is because I am no longer in the “trenches” or maybe it is a choice I make to slow down enough to “see” it. The picture reflects the joy I feel as I received a letter on my desk from my son after I get home from taking him to college, or a huge card on Mother’s day, or my favorite flowers delivered to me from my daughter. Or the glimpse I get when I see my children identifying their own “golden thread” of victory through the tapestry of their own life. It is a depiction of a client overcoming obstacles and walking in freedom, or new opportunities for work in a charity for children who struggle through illness, all daily weaves in my tapestry of life. The tapestry reflects the blessings of travel and rest, the mission field in Africa and the sweet times of fellowship with friends and family.

Now that I am seeing this tapestry form clear pictures, I often wonder what it would look like if I had been aware and intentional about it in my young days. Nevertheless, I trust and believe that when my life on this Earth is done, it will be revealed in its entirety and it is my hope that it will be a picture that brings others hope, comfort, encouragement and most of all, a reflection of the One who is the author and Creator of all life.

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…Hebrews 12:2