Back six or so years ago I was struck by a virus which effected my heart and sent it into a racing mode. For many months I was confined to a lot of rest and little physical activity. It was during this time that I took up writing poems (instead of journalling) – taking an honest look at me, what I believed, and what God’s slant on it all was. The other thing that kept me occupied was working on an elaborate Cross-Stitch of a peacock. You can view a photo of the finished product on this page. This is the background to the poem, “Like a Tapestry“.
Like a Tapestry
My life, a tapestry is like!
Both use all shades of dark and light
to slowly build a picture, bright,
stitch after stitch each phase of life.
As a masterpiece has many facets,
the stitcher needs a special pattern.
Required too is skill and care
and perseverance… oh, so rare.
Not always can one tell what a single stitch creates,
yet each is essential and therefore carefully placed.
But the stitcher’s mind can see and he is very pleased,
for he thinks upon the glory of the picture… complete!
If you look behind the work stitched by the stitcher,
the picture shows no beauty or any defined feature,
only jumbled colours, entangled threads
like messed-up spiders’ webs.
When life to us appears like that –
confused without design or guide –
it’s the backside we are looking at
and not the right, the stitcher’s side.
It is the Lord who is life’s Stitcher!
He decides the colours, strands,
and skillfully works them in us
to bring about His plans.
Sometimes we kick or squirm
because of threads He uses,
for we are so slow to learn
that in love for us, He chooses.
Trust our blessed Stitcher;
He knows the hardness of life’s tests.
The colours may look drab
and life an awful mess
if on the backside we do focus.
But remember… He knows best!
The Stitcher looks ahead and sees
the day we stand before Him,
perfect and complete,
a person of great beauty
in the image of Christ Jesus,
the pattern that He uses.
(Phil.1:6, Jude 24, Eph.2:10, 1John3:2,
Phil.3:21, Ps.149:4, Matt.13:43, Gal.5:22-23)
