Thursday, February 26, 2015

The YW quilt project

 

 Twice a week I get the chance to be able to get together with a group of teenage girls from the ages 12-18.  We talk about church stuff, work on projects, and have tons of fun.  I have been "called" to do this for my church.  I love being able to spend time with them.
   When I started my calling I wanted to do something special for the girls.  I decided that I would make all of them a quilt.  My goal was to make something special that would let each girl know that they are special and that I was thinking of them.
    I put all 26 young women's names on my white board and I thought I would start with the oldest and make my way down the list.  It didn't quite work like that.  As I would start a new quilt I would instantly have a young women's name pop into my head.  Even though she wasn't on the top of the list, I would start to make her quilt.
    On one particular quilt, I had just finished piecing the top and was about to be done for the day.  I had the strongest feeling that I needed to finish the quilt quickly and take it to the young women.  It was a lot of work, but I quickly finished the quilt and delivered it.  The young women's mom answered the door, and whispered to me that it hadn't been a good day.  She told me her daughter might not want to see me, but she said she would ask.  The young women came to the door with puffy swollen eyes, and I could tell she had been crying.  I gave her the quilt, told her I loved her, and left.
    Late that night I got a text from the young women telling me about her bad day at school, and how she felt like no one cared about her.  She said that getting the quilt had made her realize she had so many people that love her and care for her.
    It has been such an amazing experience for me to be able to make quilts for the young women in my church.  I have learned a lot about them and have been able to feel more love for them as I make them a quilt.
    Quilters are givers.  It is in our nature to make something beautiful with our talents and give it to others.  Sometimes we give to people we love, and sometimes to a stranger.  What do you do to let others know you care?


 

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