God's Patchwork Quilt

"Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you." In fact, some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect from the eyes of others those parts that should not be seen, while other parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together in such a way that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other equally. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. Now all of you together are Christ's body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it." I Corinthians 12:20-27

Janet looked through a box of material scraps while her mother sewed, "Mother! Look at these gorgeous blue satin!"

"It is pretty," Mother agreed, "but there's not enough to make a dress, or even a blouse." Janet laid it back in the box.

Several weeks later, Janet found a large gift-wrapped bundle on her bed. When she tore off the wrappings, she found a pretty, handmade patchwork quilt. "Look at all the colors and designs!" Janet said. "And the border - it's made of that pretty blue satin I liked!"

It would have been a shame not to use that material for something," said Mother. "And while I was sewing the quilt together, I realized something."

"What?" Janet asked.

"God has a patchwork quilt, too - the church!" Mom replied, "Christians can be young, old, rich, or poor. Some have many talents, others just a few. But together they make a beautiful finished product, just like this quilt."

"It is beautiful," Janet agreed. "None of the pieces would be of much use by themselves."

"No, they wouldn't," answered Mother. "There are some Christians who try to make it on their own, without even going to church or making Christian friends. But Christians need one another."

"The next time I feel like a small, unimportant scrap," Janet said, "I'll just remember that I'm an important part of God's patchwork quilt!"

Taken from "One Year Book of Family Devotions"