Blankets of Love

“May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight.”—-Psalm 119:76-77

Last weekend my daughter and I tied fleece blankets with my young niece. My daughter labored at the fabric store, choosing just the right fleece for the top and bottom of the blanket. We laid the fabric out on the floor with my niece, laying one layer painstakingly on top of the other, making sure the edges matched, then cut out fringes along all edges. Sitting on the floor, we carefully tied each fringe, connecting the bottom and top layers together. As we worked our way around the large rectangle, tying and talking, I couldn’t help but remember youth blanket-tying events several years ago.

We used to do an annual blanket-tying project at my church with tons of middle schoolers. We had yards and yards of fleece donations, plenty of parents armed with fabric shears and gumption, and eager middle schoolers who wanted a hands-on project to do. We laid fabric out all over the church hallways, multi-purpose room, and classrooms. We must have tied well over 50 blankets, which were then delivered to the Salvation Army or other charities. Our “blankets of love” were a tradition.

The part I liked best was knowing someone, out there, would have a warm blanket for Christmas. They could snuggle down in the soft fleece, maybe feel comforted for just a moment, and maybe wrap a child or friend up with them. Blankets elicit a closeness, you can’t help pulling it tighter and wrapping yourself up in it. There is something so comforting about blankets, they make you feel protected, peaceful, and calm.

The God who created us wants to wrap us up in His love, He wants to warm our hearts and comfort the rough spots in our lives. The psalmist writes about this unfailing love and how this is our comfort. Christ’s compassion and love soothes us, and we can feel His love warming our hearts and bringing light to our souls, protecting us, giving us peace.

Many are in need of a physical blanket to keep warm. Many more are in need of the blanket of Christ’s love and compassion in their lives. How might we share that warmth of God’s love today?

Prayer—“God of all comfort, your love wraps me up and brings peace to my life. Your unfailing love is my comfort, help me to hear your compassionate words and see your love in my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”