I have recently taken an interest in quilting. That interest has not yet born the fruit of an actual quilt, but my intentions are good. I am inspired by the quilting group at our church called "Piecemakers." This title isn't just a cute name with a play on the words "piece" (meaning what you do when you put a quilt together) and "peace" (tranquility, no war, harmony, etc.), it is what we are called to do and be. The ladies that are a part of this group make more than quilts, they make peace. Their quilts offer comfort. They provide quilts for those whose lives are chaos (lost everything in a fire or tornado). They give quilts as gifts to youth leaving for college to reassure them that their church family loves them. They do bring peace, and I am very thankful for them.
In Matthew 5:9, Jesus tells us "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." To be children of God, we are to be about the business of peace. We are to bring comfort to others, bring harmony when there is discord, and advocate for non-violence whenever possible.
Too often, however, we are more busy sewing seeds of discord rather than harmony. We cry for war rather than search for peace. Our lives reflect anything but tranquility as we seek retribution and revenge. We are too busy being just like everyone else rather than the body of Christ. We fail miserably at being the children of God we are called to be. This is the sad truth of our witness as Christians.
But this is the season of Lent. The season of honest reflection and repentance. We can only repent when we are first honest with ourselves and quit making excuses for our behavior. It is time we turn from our ways back to God's ways.
Blessed are those who seek to and live in peace with one another and with God.
1 comment:
When I pick up my needle, I am usually saying a prayer as well as stitching. I think of the person I am stitching for, or for the world in general.
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