True Love

My heart is in Texas.

I miss my heart, my Sweetie. While we are, at this moment, far apart the consolation of our togetherness in the Sacrament of Matrimony gives me great comfort. While we are apart from one another the longing grows deeper. We pray for one another each day for growth in holiness, for the moment when we will no longer be separated by miles. This is reminding me that one day we will no longer dwell in each others earthly company, to enjoy each moment as we can, and to work towards a deeper relationship with Jesus.

Willing the good of the other

Willing the good of the other is, by far, the best definition of True Love I’ve heard. Ever.

While waking up stupidly early one morning a replay of the Drew Mariani show with Fr. Richard Simon offered this clear, concise definition of love it is this reminder of the Other, the willing of the good of the other was repeated.

We hear in First Corinthians: Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.

It’s time to wait on the Lord

As you know I’m a quilter and have the privilege of meeting a lot of people. I asked on social media, “What is your favorite quilting memory?” Ultimately my favorite memories are surrounded with meeting quilters and entering into their lives, even the ones where the relationships have disintegrated in some way for we have influenced one another in some way. I do wish the best for them. I hope they find the peace of Jesus. As I write this a really lovely and painful memory bubbles up to the surface. And in that I wish all well.

This willing of the good of the other extends out in so many different ways. Love is not going to a friend’s home as she is immune compromised even though I want nothing more than to eat a meal together, quilt together and give her a big hug. Love is packing up this house and taking care of things here in New York when I want nothing more to get in my car and drive straight through to Texas to be with him until all of this is over and we can move our life and I can be with my Sweetie in person. I am loving my husband, he is loving me through this.

Willing the good of the other is refraining as often as possible from speaking ill of the other person, name calling, using diminishing – demeaning language no matter how much I dislike someone. This is an area where I struggle when particularly when speaking with closer friends, there is a greater sense of freedom in sharing my true, often fleeing feelings. Expressing frustration or anger is one thing, denigrating is another thing.

As I write I can see some things in my life wherein my own heart is convicted, repentant, seeking to, needing make changes. This acknowledgement feels much like an unfurling of a leaf, or flower opening to the light, feeding the rest of the plant with the light of the sun. Packing up a home after twenty-two years of living in one place opens me up to the light of being in one place for a long period of time. Letting go of things, understanding the fleetingness of emotions, and particularly in my own impatience will become opportunities for grace, God’s never ending Mercy, to water my soul and order my life and heart towards Him.

As a quilter I’ve learned to understand the depth of practice and how practice leads to understanding. Practice is frustrating often leading to walking out of the sewing room to go do other things until my mind and hands are ready to pursue taking the necessary steps toward correcting, fixing, changing what isn’t working. It is why, “A seam ripper is a quilters best friend” is a truth worth living and why I’m willing to let some things stay the way they are. Like the machine quilting on Bob’s Quilt, it is a bit of character, and shows me, shows students that progress happens in the practice. This practice is why I’m willing to let some pieces go as they have taught me all they need to, their value is for someone else as they see the beauty in the piece and are able, with their skills, heart, and desire to bring out the best in that piece.

When I teach it is my greatest hope that at some moment each student will experience two things 1) that they are cared for by me in a way unique to them; and 2) that each will see the value in practicing toward their own growth as a quilt maker wherever their quilt path goes. We get to influence each other, love one another, will the best for the other. I can further share teaching is an act of vulnerability, a heart fully open to share with students, share with you the things learned through practice. See we’ve made these mistakes, we’ve worked them out this way, take what I’ve learned and make it your own, make your mistakes, ask questions, go through the struggle come out on the other side the quilter you are meant to be. The person of Faith you are meant to be.

Happy Fifth Sunday of Lent,
Teri