Surrender was my 2025 Word of the Year. I had no expectations or desires other than to live it however God desired. About a month ago I wrote this reflection on living with this word. As sometimes happens there is further reflection on surrender, that brought a delight I cannot quite explain. As part of formation as a Spiritual Director we experienced group spiritual direction. When the email went out asking for participants I said yes. In part because I desired to learn through active participation and in part because I was scared. The prayer that night was beautiful and gleeful. I had this image of being a little girl, the Father takes me by the arms and swings me around and I’m giggling. This was such great delight for me and when I shared in the group setting. .
Over the last few days what’s come up in reflecting on this experience and thinking about an experience with a little kid one morning while I was at a quilt shop working. This kid walked through the other adults in the room that he knew, stood in front of me, raised his arms up for me to pick him up. I did and he and I just held each other for a few minutes. I can still feel this moment. Just like I can still feel this moment of swinging around with God the Father holding me.
In prayer here and there over the last couple of months this moment returns asking me to take a look at it again as there was something else for me to notice.
Courage & Trust
A little kid will let you do this – again and again and again – when they trust you.
As an adult, there is also courage involved.
Mind blown.
A few weeks ago I received a box of remnants (I’ll share more of this over on TerifiCreations.) from one of my favorite fabric companies. It’s been a very long time since I’ve intentionally pieced a quilt top. These remnants though, inspired me, enough so that I’m working on a remake of Split Complementerity – a quilt I made almost 20 years ago.
The first few blocks show the need for practice in cutting, piecing and pressing. As I’ve worked with each block or group of blocks there is a definite slowing down to measure well, cut well, stitch well, and press well. The seam ripper and I have spent some time together when a half-square triangle is turned the wrong way. There is a sense of satisfaction in watching each block come together well, and a delight where I’ve missed a little bit, because character ya know. This isn’t a show quilt, so while good work is expected on my part, there is a grace allowed.
There is a surrender to the process of actively participating in creativity is necessary, frustrating and delightful all in the same moment.
Confession is surrender to Jesus. Oh most Holy Trinity here is where I’ve abused my will and here’s how. The promptings for going were resisted. This happens. And yet the timing of going to the Sacrament of Reconciliation seems as beautiful as a sunrise. The Abiding Together podcast arrives in my email Monday morning with Forgiveness as a theme. For some time now when I’m in the car by myself I keep silence, it is a hard discipline sometimes because sunrises or getting cut off by other drivers. I am certain I annoy other drivers! As I drove to meet my Confessor I made the choice to listen to the podcast, both because it was a convenient time and also because I’m going to reveal my heart to Jesus. This weeks discussion is Forgiveness, which is in part why I waited and it’s also just timely. I further recognize that the timing of going may have been the work of the Holy Spirit particularly as the tears flowed.
Part of quilting, part of any craft is surrendering to the messy process of growing in each skill set involved in making whatever it is. For me this is a quilt. Over the years one thing is clear, that is there are times when it’s essential to go back to the beginnings, or revisit something with fresh eyes and more honed skills and see what happens. This is in one sense, priming the pump, and in another that place where how my own voice becomes apparent in the skills showing me in part what I’ve learned and how that influences me today and also showing me that there is still room to grow, that the practice of these skills takes the rust off and brings great joy.
With this I head off to tidy up my space as I’m teaching Color Theory for Quilters on LessonFace tomorrow afternoon. This four week class will incorporate the color wheel, color relationships and my favorite the “theory of color relativity” because I am a quilter after all. And color is relative.
God bless you,
Teri
A Quilter's Heart 