When I was a little girl, I was in awe of my Grandmother and her many abilities. Grandma could do anything. She was a wonderful cook and she was packed with so many wonderful domestic skills. She could quilt, sew, embroidery, knit and crochet. I could only watch in amazement because I never mastered any of these incredible gifts, even though my Grandmother tried very patiently to teach me. My sister, on the other hand, was able to learn these crafts from Grandma. My sister is one of those women who can do anything, too. If I didn’t love her so much I would have to hate her.

When I was in middle school, I had to take a required Home Economics class. If any of you have ever taken a Home Economics class, you know that the class is all about learning domestic skills, like cooking and sewing. Let me just tell you, I almost flunked my Home Economics class. All I had to do by the end of the semester was to make a skirt and a stupid apron. I tried so very hard but I just couldn’t do it. The end result was an unrecognizable apron and a hideous skirt. Both pieces were terrible! I honestly put a huge amount of effort into those silly garments. I didn’t do so well in the cooking side of the class either. Only I could mess up chocolate chip cookies by burning my batch!! After all these years, I must confess that things have not changed for me in the cooking department. I have a sign hanging over my kitchen stove that says, “I kiss better than I cook.” And I have a sign in my kitchen pantry that reads, “I’m not Betty Crocker, so deal with it.” How about this one which sits on my kitchen counter, it reads, “The only reason I have this kitchen is because it came with the house.” I only passed the class because the teacher really liked me and totally understood that I just could not do these domestic tasks. My teacher put her arm around me at the end of the semester and said, “It’s ok, Cheryle. Some people are just not cut out for this kind of stuff. You have lots of other talents and abilities.” And thank goodness she was right! We are all packaged differently, and I will shout out a big Hallelujah to that one!

 

After Grandma passed away, my sister found a half-finished embroidery piece that Grandma had been working on. It was the start of a table runner with a beautiful pattern of purple and yellow pansies. Sis took that piece, finished it and turned it into a masterpiece. She surprised me and gave it to me as a gift not long after Grandma’s passing. It is a magnificent treasure to me because it is a blend of my Grandmother’s love and skill and my sister’s heart and craft. She included this poem she wrote with the completed piece.

 

The Special Gift

This is a very special gift; none like you’ve had before

You could search far and wide and not find it in a store.

You see, it is the last of many treasures that you and I have shared,

I wanted you to have it because I know how much you cared.

I found it plain and simple and put love in every stitch.

I hope you’ll use it in your home and make it look real rich.

You see, Grandma started to make it “the prettiest thing she got”.

But time did not allow her to finish what she bought.

The other little part is just a bargain from your sis,

It comes to you with lots of love, a tear, a hug and kiss.

So cherish it if nothing else, remember where it’s from.

Grandma’s big ole farm house where we as children made our fun.

 

When I look at the back of the embroidered piece, I can only see a glimpse of what the artists were trying to accomplish. The back is kind of ragged and has strings and stitches going every which way. The crazy, discombobulated pattern on the back made me think about the things in life that happen that I just don’t understand. It also made me think about my life and how sometimes I feel like this journey I’m on just doesn’t make sense. Then I was reminded of a statement I heard recently about author Elisabeth Elliot. In her book The Shadow of the Almighty, Elizabeth compares a tapestry to the sovereignty of God. She says that as we look at the back of a tapestry or in my case the back of Grandma’s embroidery piece, it’s as if God is allowing us to see just an outline on this life. But in eternity, God will turn the tapestry around and we will see the completed picture. So when you face times of doubt and uncertainty or those “why” questions flood your mind, be at peace with knowing that we might not have the answers this side of heaven. But we can trust in the character, attributes and heart of a mighty, sovereign God whose goal is to work all things out for good. Take heart in the words from 1 Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” According to my ESV study bible commentary, ancient mirrors were made from polished metal, such as bronze, and thus one’s reflection was even more “dim” than in modern mirrors. Face to face suggests a reference to Christ’s second coming and to seeing God personally. When we are face to face with Christ, he will turn the tapestry around, and then we will truly see. Until then, enjoy the view you have!