Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Beautiful Hands

The work of one's hands often shows the love of one's heart.....

I have been blessed to come to know two ladies who I think have very beautiful hearts... as evidenced by the work of their hands.

These two ladies, Mabel and Hazel, had been working in a church center which ministered to and helped poor people. When the church center closed down they, along with a few other ladies (Zelda, Linda, Helen, Lois, Gloria and Betty), still had a desire to do something for those who needed help. So they decided to make quilts. One day a week they would gather together at Mabel's home, and would cut and sew and hand-tie quilts. Usually there were four or five ladies working, but toward the end there were only three. When the quilts were finished they would give them to people in need.

This may not sound like a very big thing to some. But because they were willing to do this project over a long period of time, the results were extraordinary. Over a period of six years these lovely ladies made 998 quilts and gave all of them away.

Mabel commented that they only quit their project because it began to cause pain in their fingers to pin and sew the quilts. So they have now given the quilt tops that weren't yet completed to a group who is making lap robes for the mentally ill.

What started out as a small thing amounted to MUCH.... simply because they were faithful to continue on. What an inspiration!

"She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy."
Proverbs 31:20 NKJ

© 2006 Arlene Schwartzkopf