The Gift
Today’s Truth
“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." (Proverbs 31:28 NIV)
Friend to Friend
Bridal showers are so predictable. Mounds of various sized boxes wrapped in shiny silver and glossy white paper, topped with beautifully crafted bows. Toaster ovens, electric can openers, stainless steel mixing bowls, everyday dishes and fine china. Ooo's and Aaah's echo around the room from spectators as each treasure is carefully unwrapped and passed around the crowd for inspection. There are comments from a choir of on-lookers who have traveled this road years before. “You'll need that.” “I still use my stainless bowls that I got for a wedding present back in '65.” “You can never have too many pot holders.” And so it goes.
My bridal shower was no exception. The story was the same as the thousands before mine. However, one present stood out above all the crock pots, bath towels, and silverware. It was a gift from my mother.
In 1956, Louise Anderson Edwards discovered she was pregnant with her second child. To pass the time, this twenty-four-year-old woman decided to try her hand at crochet. Her mother-in-law, a magician with needle and thread, taught Louise the ins and outs of crochet mastery.
Louise was one of twelve children, raised on a tobacco farm in
It was this same twine that Louise's nimble fingers used to crochet a beautiful bed spread for this new child she was carrying. Love was woven into the spread with each stitch that her mind silently counted. The project took eight months to complete. A baby girl was born just as the last inch of the fringed border was tatted into place. She named her new arrival “
The baby girl grew too large for her crib and was too soon ready for her first bed. However, it wasn't the masterpiece her mom had created that graced her bed. Instead, ballerinas in airy white and pink tutus danced across the fabric of her spread and on the canopy over her head. The crochet bedspread was buried away like a treasure for later- 23 years later.
At my bridal shower, ladies crowded around to see what grand finale my mom had saved as the last gift to be opened. I carefully unwrapped the package and plucked the bow from its lid. As I removed the top and folded back layers of tissue paper, I saw the beautiful crochet bed spread that my mother had created while God was creating me.
"You can never have too many bed spreads." commented one of the old timers.
"And you can never have too much love," I echoed behind.
Four years later, as God was knitting together my first child in my womb, I took up quilting. My first project took eight months to complete and love was woven into each tiny stitch. I have visions of one day taking this quilt to my son's fiancée’s bridal shower. Then among the gifts of pots and pans, she'll open the beautifully wrapped box.
Someone will say, "You can never have too many quilts."
And I will echo, "And you can never have too much love."
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, Thank you for the gift of family. I pray that I will continue to pass the gift of love from one generation to another. Like a beautiful gift, may we pack each day with love for one another that will serve as a reminder of the great love that You have for us…Your children. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Not it’s Your Turn
What is one of the most precious gifts that you have ever received?
What made it special?
Today, consider writing a note, letter, or e-mail to that person, thanking him or
her once again for that special gift.
More from the Girlfriends
Leaving a legacy of love takes intentional mothering. If you would like to learn more about one of the most important jobs on earth, see
Originally published Monday, 11 June 2007.
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