Prayer Quilt

I introduced you to my Ohio Sister-in-Law last year (Osil) and now I want to introduce you to my Oklahoma Sister-in-Law (OKsil), a multi-talented lady whose sewing abilities are on display in several homes. She also does stained glass art, oil painting and is a decorator extraordinaire!  She made this prayer quilt.

Those squares are two inches.  The letters, along with the tiny numbers on the right hand corners, create biblical words and were designed to emulate a crossword puzzle game board.  She embroidered each, sewed the tiny pieces together, quilted with batting and back, all done to provide a lap quilt for a patient.  It was done to warm the patient’s body, all the while knowing that prayers were said during the making to keep the patient safe in God’s hands.

OKsil did this biblically:

But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. (Matthew 6:3-4 KJV)

She did not tell the patient she was working on it.  She carried the quilt to the patient one Sunday in a gift sack, handed it over with just a comment that prayers were being said and she hoped it would provide comfort.

The patient didn’t wait to open it. It was shown to those nearby and soon the teacher came to OKsil and asked if it would be OK for the class to know who made it and they would all pray together.  “Of course,” she replied.

The quilt was taken to the front of the class, explanations given and it was prayed over by everyone wanting to share in the patient’s well-being.  What beautiful memories were made that morning, and OKsil’s quiet loving care received the promised open rewards.

Nothing really remains secret, does it?  Whether it be for good or for bad, our works end up on display, publically. The Bible is clear on that point:

But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out. (Numbers 32:23 KJV)

Our salvation is of utmost importance, but never forget the works done in our Lord’s manner and in His name:

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. (Matthew 16:27 KJV)

John was aware of this importance:

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. (James 2:15-18 KJV)

This prayer quilt provides warmth, and was filled with prayers from many. Let each of us do as well for others, as Jesus said at the close of the Good Samaritan parable:

… Go, and do thou likewise. (Luke 10:37b KJV)