An Imperfect Blanket

Before I came home for this summer, I made a list of projects I wanted to accomplish before the summer was over.  I slowly but surely made it through the DIY list before reaching the last item I wished to conquer: a t-shirt quilt.  I knew it would be a tedious task and very time consuming.

With no more projects left, I had to face the quilt. I had never made a t-shirt quilt before. The materials were all bought and everything was ready to go, I just had to simply start.  Once I started selecting shirts and laying it all out, my excitement started to grow.  But of course, I hit road bumps and I had to readjust.

I grew frustrated with each new problem.  I thought once I solved the last problem that it would be smooth sailing, but of course, I was wrong.  As I took over the den for my project, my parents would check on me and ask how it was going.  I responded several times with, “I want to set it all on fire and give up.”  My goal to finish the quilt before moving back to school seemed impossible and my patience was wearing thin.

All the issues I encountered reminded me of how life can be.  We all run into problems from time to time, and during trials it can all seem hopeless.  Throwing in the towel has all crossed our minds a time or two.  When times get hard, retreating sounds like a good idea.  But Mama didn’t raise a quitter.

My parents and brother kept encouraging me as I was on the last leg to finish, but I refused to accept it looked okay until the last stitch was in place.  In order to meet my deadline, I kept working diligently.  Of course, there were some mistakes that could not be fixed in the quilt.  All lines were not perfect, and each square did not line up 100% exactly.  All that mattered in the end was that I did the very best I could.

So, I finished the t-shirt quilt with a week to spare before heading back to school.  It proudly sits on my bed and it is extremely warm.  When I look at each square on my blanket, I am reminded of the event from each T-shirt.  I selected t-shirts from high school, middle school, sport teams, and theater.  I purposely  chose shirts from phenomenal memories as well as ones I would be absolutely okay with never reliving again.  I wanted my quilt to represent my life, and that includes the times that made me stronger as a person.

“The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.  For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:22-23

Life is not perfect, and I am far from it as well.  There is only one person that has ever been perfect and that is Jesus Christ.  My quilt serves as a reminder that it is okay to not be perfect all the time.  I can strive to do my best, but I will always fall short.

Psalms 139: 13-14 says, “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

But I know, that I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Although I am not perfect, God is still proud to call me His child, even when I disappoint Him when I sin and turn from Him.

I may have physically yelled at my quilt in anger when it wouldn’t do as I wanted, but I am still proud of my creation.  I was able to get a small glimpse of how God must feel with all of His children.