Clouds bring the rain, but they also offer protection. I for one prefer driving on a cloudy day than against the bright sunlight. You may enjoy clouds for other reasons. Any way we view them, they are one of God’s many blessings.
Eternal Perspectives by Sally Bair
Clouds and quilts
Anyone living by one of the Great Lakes appreciates the beauty and variation of the clouds. Some days I’m mesmerized by their color and movement and shape. More than once I’ve watched a cloud-studded sky filled with endless rows of narrow, blue-gray clouds from horizon to horizon. Each time, I felt I could have touched the low, puffy coverings.
Unusual layers of clouds remind me of my quilting days, a time when I sold quilts and quilting supplies, a time when I taught the craft of making quilts. Each of my quilts had a top, a backing, and a filler made of soft cotton, wool, or synthetic fabric. Sometimes I quilted the layers together by hand, other times I used my sewing machine, stitching in long rows from top to bottom. Once sewn, the quilts puffed up like the clouds I saw.
As I think about the puffy clouds I’ve viewed, I’m reminded of the story about the Israelites wandering the wilderness on their way to their promised land. God’s daily cloud of protection stretched from horizon to horizon. His love and care included every one of His people. I imagine His cloud lay so low that they felt they could almost touch it. Nothing harmed them while God covered them.
God’s quilt of protection covers us, too. It’s close enough to touch and we can bask in His warmth, His softness. While covered, we can cope with the cold, harsh realities of life around us. We also can avoid the cold thoughts and wrong attitudes within us. Our feelings of anger or disappointment dissolve when we decide to settle under His covering of peace. Our despair from loss or rejection changes to joy when we choose to wrap ourselves in His love.
Jesus promises us true rest. He bids us to approach Him. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
A cloud-like quilt, covering us when we’re tired, cold, or in need, offers us physical rest. Jesus’ cloud-like quilt of love and forgiveness promises us spiritual rest.
Lord, thank You for Your warm quilt of love and forgiveness. Help us remember to use it whenever we fall short in our walk through life. We invite You to be our protecting quilt. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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