The Art of Homemaking: The Quiltmaker’s Gift

The Art of Homemaking: The Quiltmaker’s Gift

“There was once a quiltmaker who kept a house in the blue misty mountains up high.”

“Some said that there was magic in her fingers.  Some whispered that her needles and cloth were gifts {and} still others said that the quilts really fell to earth from the shoulders of passing angels.”

“Many people climbed her mountain, pockets bursting with gold, hoping to buy one of the wonderful quilts.  But the woman would not sell them. ‘I give my quilts to those who are poor or homeless,’ she told all who knocked on her door. ‘They are not for the rich.’

But down in the village lived a King who loved gifts….presents and was very greedy.  He wanted every present in the kingdom.  But the quiltmaker would only make him a quilt if he gave away everything he received.

I won’t ruin the story for you….because it is one of those stories to be loved and cherished…but the King learns some lessons about giving and receiving. The book is HERE if you want to buy it for your family as well…or for the beautiful pictures of quilts, they are spectacular! (Affiliate link)

A couple of weeks ago I read this story for our weekly family night and we talked about the lessons that the King learned in the story.  Each of my kids thought about different things that he learned and then I asked how this could relate to our summer.

You see, we have two kiddos that need some service hours done.  One for Boy Scouts for a rank advancement and one for Activity Days for girls.  And so this summer I knew would be the perfect time to get those service hours done.  So, we brainstormed as a family what we could do this summer to give instead of receive.  And it was one of those lessons that I think stuck.  The kids were talking about great things that each one of them could do….to give things away.

We made a list and it is hanging on our fridge but I think it will be a great thing for us.  Some of the ideas include sewing a quilt together as a family and giving it to someone in need, helping grand parents with some yard work this summer, volunteering at a soup kitchen, welcoming new neighbors, cleaning out the toy cupboard for children in need, and doing secret service in our family.

And I am hoping that it really will be a summer of giving…and a memorable one at that.

~Elizabeth