We all have our memories. One of my best friends in life says our memories are our soul. I think he is right. Our experiences shape who we are, right to our very core. A soul is not a static place, but a dynamic idea that shifts all the time. One thing I have learned is you leave pieces of yourself everywhere you go. Every place I have set foot has a piece of my soul. What’s more, every person I connect with has a little part of my heart. I have strings from my soul to people and places all over the world. That’s what life is - breaking yourself down so you can replace the empty pieces with bigger things, new ideas, different cultures, and most importantly, the love of others. If we don’t let pieces of ourselves get lost along the way, new pieces cannot find their way to us. Your soul is a patchwork quilt, a new bit sewn together each day.
The Lord is the ultimate healer and protector of my soul, but a beautiful thing about Him is He created us to build relationships. He Himself is a triune, three people in one, so He created us in His image to love and interact with others. Thus, I believe each soul is a patchwork heart. Pieces of others’ lives are stitched into our hearts, which is sometimes frayed and imperfect, but beautiful in its own right. The Lord created you with His tender hands, leaving room for growth and new life in Him. He will mend the frayed edges and revive the faded colors. Patchwork quilts are woven with care, well-loved by others because each piece tells a story. I know, at least in West Virginia, these quilts are cherished for generations, passed down through gentle and loving hands. Cherish your heart like this.
You may give some patches of yourself to others, sharing memories and experiences with them before you realize what is happening. In the best situations, they return the favor, adding more quilt squares to your soul than you ever thought possible. Sometimes people take beautiful parts of you and trash them, tearing your seams for no good reason. When this brokenness threatens to overtake you, seek the ultimate Mender and those people who help shape you into the beautiful soul you are. You will return to the beloved person you were created to be.
Realize your soul a beautiful heritage, telling stories of those who have come before you and those you have met along your journey. The bright colors mingled among the dark hues of hard times are the unique patchwork that makes you who you are. Know the warmth hidden in your depths can be a comfort to those surrounding you. Even the frayed edges caused by those experiences that left you a little worse for wear bring character to your soul. Others can see those holes and know you struggled through something, but are still the colorful comfort they find on cold winter nights. Your soul is as unique as these quilts. Do not worry too much about your frayed edges. Live your life gathering and giving as many colors and patterns as possible.
