Quilt #43 Vicki Wood

Quilt #43 was presented to a sweet woman who lost her 16 year old son to cancer. Their family loved the outdoors and this quilt pattern designer shared that she was inspired by Ralph Waldo Emerson's admonishment to "live in the sunshine."

This project has taught me some about grief. It just won't be rushed. Some of the recipients of these quilts aren't in a space to share photos when given. We all deserve space as the sacred process occurs.

Today we received word that another grandmother in our family passed last night. Two in two weeks. I have a new understanding of what it means to "mourn with those who mourn."

I found this poem recently and it seems the right space to share it.

I had my own notion of grief.

I thought it was the sad time

That followed the death of

Someone you love.

And you had to push through it

To get to the other side.

There is no pushing through.

But rather,

There is absorption.

Adjustment.

Acceptance

And grief is not something you complete,

But rather, you endure.

Grief is not a task to finish

And move on,

But an element of yourself-

An alteration of your being.

A new way of seeing

A new definition of self.

I hope this quilt provides some small measure of comfort to a grieving parent. Love in the stitches...