When she placed the homemade quilt in my hands, the feeling that came over me was indescribable. Tears flowed before I could find the words. She worried that the gift was late—four years after the day she drove me to the emergency room, four years into a cancer journey that is still not over. But as I looked at the quilt, I did not see lateness. I saw every miracle that had carried me up to that day.
Sewn strength is what I see when I look at this quilt—not only my own, but Sara’s too. She stitched together the light and dark pieces of my journey while she walked through miracles of her own. Perhaps that is why this quilt carries so much meaning: it was created by someone who understands that strength is not the absence of fear, pain, or uncertainty. It is faith that keeps holding the pieces together when life feels as though it might come apart.
The Red at My Center
This wasn’t Sara’s first quilt! She shared one she made for a family member in a log cabin pattern. Its meaning makes it even more special! At its center is a red block representing the heart of the home. Strip by strip, the pattern grows, alternating between light and dark. The light pieces represent the happy seasons of life; the dark pieces hold their sadness. Together, they form something whole and beautiful.
I knew right away what the red center meant in my own life. Christ. Family and faith. They are my hearth—the love, warmth, and the place I call home. They have held the center through frightening news, uncertain days, answered prayers, unexpected kindness, and moments of joy.
There have been some very dark strips. Cancer is still part of my life, and it is incurable. I cannot pretend otherwise. But my faith is incurable, too! Darkness has never been (or WILL BE) the whole story. Light keeps showing up—in the people who stay beside me, in strength I did not know I had, in prayers that carry me, and in miracles both quiet and unmistakable. The light of our Lord is always there!
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:5
Right on Time
Sara apologized that the quilt was late. I assured her it was not! It came at exactly the right time, carrying the meaning of every day that came before it. Almost 4 and 1/2 years ago, she drove me to the emergency room–and an “adventure” began neither of us could have imagined. Now she had placed that journey in my hands in a form I could see, touch, and hold close.
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Ecclesiastes
Today I am finally trying to put words around what she stitched together so beautifully. My life, like this quilt, holds both light and darkness. There has been sorrow and happiness, fear and gratitude, illness, and miracles. No single strip tells the whole story. The beauty is in the way they are all joined together.
And through every piece runs a thread that cannot be cut: my faith. My cancer may be incurable, but I have an incurable faith—a faith sewn into every stitch of my life’s quilt. My sewn strength comes from my Savior. Friends, may you find strength and comfort as we walk out our journeys together.
Today is National Writing Day, my friends. It gives me such joy that many of you write daily! I miss writing regularly. It’s like music and being in nature to me. When the music isn’t playing, my feet aren’t in nature, and I’m not emptying my soul of words, it feels as though the paragraphs, verses, and twigs all pile up inside me. They have to be released somehow.
The quilt, my pictures, songs, and words allow me to time travel. To places where I was reunited with my family members, experiencing the fresh air of woods and the peace that comes from being still in nature. My every other day recovery needs a refrain before I can sing the next chorus, take another walk, or write the words in my heart.
As my bone marrow continues recovering and I await further scans, I refuse to stop living life to the full. I will take each day and make it its own special block of my life’s quilt. And I’ll wrap it around me with the warmth and love of my Savior, family, and friends. Do you know how loved you are, my friends?
Have hope. Keep the faith, my friends. 💚
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is a cozy with the scripture reference “John 3:16” right beneath it. It’s soft, comfortable, and makes a wonderful, faith-filled addition to your wardrobe for the cooler seasons! The “Fall into Faith” Long-Sleeve Tee.100% Cotton-fitted. Featuring a charming, rustic autumn design complete with falling leaves and a festive pumpkin, this shirt serves as a gentle reminder of the blessings all around us.
is a cozy, soft cotton-acrylic blend knit beanie designed to keep you warm during brisk outdoor walks or crisp days.
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Beautifully shared, my Dear Sister… I don’t always understand the hard seasons either, but I’m thankful Jesus holds us together when life feels overwhelming.
God Bless you, today and always…
Love the quilt… Absolutely Beautiful …
You Are Loved…
Thank you, dear brother! I appreciate your wisdom and support. I love how all the seasons make life such a perfect “whole”.
God bless you and your precious family! Much love 🙏🙏
This is beautiful. I’m very happy to see Finn on that beautiful quilt. What a lovely gift.
Thank you, MAK. It’s so special! 🥰🐾♥️
What a beautiful gift for you, Karla. There is a lot of love sewn into that quilt. That is a great picture of you and Finley.
Thank you, Dwight. It’s so precious! I feel the love in each stitch!
Also, for your kind words about the picture. Take care, my friend. I appreciate you!
You are very welcome, Karla.
That’s a nice quilt, and an even nicer friend. May it keep you warm, and take the misery out of a Missouri winter.
I like that your faith is incurable. There’s more warmth in that, than can be found in such a nice quilt as this one. But I’m pulling for you, and hoping that your cancer is not incurable.
Thank you, Tippy! It’s such a joy to see it daily and to wrap in it, other gifted blankets, and feel the support of friends like you!
I’m walking cured in my book, my dear friend. I’ll keep on keeping on.
A very beautiful gift. It carries lots of love and heartfelt wishes for you.
Oh, Sadje. It truly does sweet friend. Thank you.♥️🤗❤️🙏
You’re most welcome dear friend
So beautiful, thank you for sharing your journey — even with those who don’t know you.
Thank you, J.K. I love how our stories and journeys can help others! I appreciate your kind support! 🙏❤️
Karla, my friend, your strength and courage testify to the reality of God’s grace. You are a great encouragement to us all. Your love shines through brightly. I thank God for you. I am praying for you each night before I go to sleep. Yes, you ARE loved, and by many! 💕
Henry and I send our love and prayers to you and that adorable Finley! 🙏🐾
Thank you, sweet friend, for your kind and generous support and words!
I’m so thankful to God for you and Henry. Finley and I send our love and prayers daily!💕🙏🐾
What a perfect gift for you Karla. This quilt is magnificent. And sweet Miss Finley is lovingly represented. There’s nothing more beautiful than a quilt made especially for you.
As always, sending you and Finn my love and prayers. You raise so many people up from their doldrums while you’re battling your own.
Love, Ginger🦋
Aww, Ginger. I’m so happy I can help lift the spirits! The only weight we should ALL feel is the heavyweight of a quilt of love and the love of our Creator.
Finley and I love and appreciate you sweet soul. Please take care. ♥️🙏🐾
My sweet Karla, your writing is always encouraging as I have watched you walk through the dark and the light in your journey! Your faith is grounded in God’s love and your hope is in the finished work of Christ. The quilt is beautiful and what a tangible gift of love.
I love you and you are always in my prayers🙏🏻❤️🎶🧡🍂🧡🙏🏻
Pam, thank you precious friend. You have graciously walked, and waited, by me through so many moments these last years. You’re a gift!
I give all glory to God for his mercy, miracles, and constant work in me. Hope is easy for me when I keep my focus and gaze on him, and not the world.
I love you dearly. I knew you’d love this quilt! It’s such a blessing to be a prayer warrior for you and your sweet family 💕🙏🎶🍂🍁🫶🏻
Incurable faith…what a great gift…quilt and all!
Amen, Gary! Thank you, dear friend!
I am so happy to hear that your bone marrow is recovering, even though it might need time and more patience. But your positive and encouraging soul is just so sunny. Sending you big hugs, dear Karla 💖
Thank you, Erika! Your positive presence and soul are such a sweet gift to me (and many others!). Sending loved and hugs, my friend 🍁🍂🫶🏻🤗
What a beautiful, precious gift! ❤️
Thank you, Kelley 🥰❤️🙏
Karla, you are so loved! I’m just recovered from COVID and know the feeling of being cared for by friends and family…. That quilt is a marvel! I’m sure it not only warms the body but also wraps your heart and soul in a warmth that exceeds that which the flesh can experience… The prayer warriors are hard at work and Mochi sends her greeting too! Much love and many prayers are headed your way!!!
Oh Val~ I’m so sorry to hear you were sick~ its impacts can be hard. I’m thrilled to know you have the love and support of family.
Sara will be delighted to hear how the quilt is a message for everyone! I love how they share stories of those they comfort. I think of all of us, placing our own squares and stories in a huge quilt~ this place, your story~ the prayer warriors~ it’s a huge quilt that provides warmth and comfort! And joy!
Finley and I send our love to you and Mochi! We’re wrapping you in prayers! 🐾❤️🙏
As it gets colder at night, I appreciate my quilt more and more… We feel the prayers wrapping around us. It is like protective armor! Hope you are armored in prayer too!
What a unique and remarkable gift, Karla. Like an illuminated manuscript, it illustrates your Homeric journey — one that speaks to so many.
Thank you, Mitch, for this beautiful description of what this is–“an illuminated manuscript”. I’m so humbled by it all, dear friend. ❤️
Sara’s quilt is beautiful. More importantly, it came to you at the right time. Who cares about 4 and a half years, right? The memories must be wonderful. It’s a reminder of all that’s good. I think God is smiling at the quilt. Really.
Aww, Jennie. That’s right! I believe He is too. Thank you, dear friend. I appreciate you so much!
The colors go so beautifully with your carpeting, too!…
Thank you, Ana!
I like that: ‘incurable faith’ ; it is the message I spread too;the one that still blows me i away in that passage in Matthew when Peter walks on water and begins sinking and Jesus reaches out to him. Hope you liked the end of my post where you are mentioned again in a playful but sincere way 🙂 love that quilt:when I was in the happy cancer ward I watched a patient a few spaces down from me weave her quilt. To me who can only write it was a revelation —
I loved the ending, John! I need to put myself in the broom closet, too. Thank goodness for God’s grace!
Wouldn’t it be amazing to quilt? I’m in awe!
I’ll just join you in the broom closet and request cheeseburgers!
Let’s keep walking in the grace of God, dear friend!
hahahahaha; you can’t do much better; read David’s comment for a hoot 🙂 taking a sabbatical from the bc for a few weeks: I feel cleansed 🙂
Wow, what a Groovy Quilt, a real treasure!
Thank you, Chuckster! It’s the grooviest of groovy!