A Beautiful Tapestry

This is a guest post from Christine Hebert. She has put eloquently into words how many of us feel about those who touch our lives, for a season or a lifetime.

I belong to a Catholic homeschool group. On Mondays, we have co-op classes, and I am the hall monitor. As parents came and went while bringing their children in, or came in to teach a class for the morning, I realized our group is very much like a tapestry. Each family represents a different color and may be present for a large section of the tapestry, but sometimes, the color is missing for a time to be worked back in later.

I was reflecting on how the changes in each of our lives dictate our presence of absence from the group. The birth of a new baby changes the mobility of the mom and dad. An ailing parent or grandparent who requires extra time and attention keeps us closer to home. Children grow beyond home and go to college.

Each change in our lives weaves a pattern. Each thread is interwoven with the presence of support when needed. Some parts of our tapestry may seem threadbare. Those times when we feel alone, however, may actually be when our tapestry, as we look back on it, is richest. The stronger threads that surround it support our tattered thread.

I am blessed to have my tapestry made more beautiful by the addition of new colors that twine with mine and create new patterns. It enriches my experience and adds dimension to our lives that might not otherwise have been there.

Visit Christine's blog at As myu house turns