The Quilt

Whew, today has been a long one.... I desperately needed sleep, but the Lord had other plans. After much prayer and meditation, I completed a task I was not sure I could do. My friend and co-worker, Tiffany, had commisioned me to write a poem. A poem for the young son of one of our nurses, Debbie Gill. This precious little boy, Caleb Gill, is struggling with cancer. Tiffany has headed up a special project and spent many hours laboring on a quilt covered with the handprints of Debbie's friends and family from the Neonatal ICU of Huntsville Hospital.... a labor of love to comfort him during this storm. Shhh... the quilt and the poem will be given to the family this weekend, so don't share this with anyone that might spoil the surprise.... This is the poem that was laid on my heart.

The Quilt
By Harriette Glover
A beautiful young seedling stood low to the ground,
Not quite as tall as the stalks all around.

“How will I ever grow to be strong and tall,
And be ready like the others for harvest this fall?”

His Master assured him it was part of His plan,
“In no time you’ll grow and a tall stalk you’ll stand.”

Discouraged, yet hopeful, he silently waited,
As the others outgrew him, his hopes slowly faded.

Then the winds and the rains came and the others did form
A blanket of nature shielding him from the storm.

When dawn broke the seedling awakened to see,
That none stood as tall and majestic as he.

It was just at that moment that he realized,
He’d weathered the storm, but… because of his size.

Ever thankful, the seedling grew tall and so proud,
His bulbs were like blossoms of pure snow white clouds.

“What is my purpose?” To the Master he said.
“You’ll be made into a quilt for a young child’s bed.”

“Together with the handprints of many of his friends,
You’ll cover and protect him through the storms that life sends.”

“A beautiful reminder, together you’ll be,
Of My plan for you… when you were only a seed.”

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11