To my knowledge, the "Humility Square" is the one quilt square that Puritans or Amish quilters purposely created imperfectly in their quilts. It was an acknowledgment that only God is perfect in this world. Mind you, this is the understanding that I have of it, based on a beginning quilting class I took over 20 years ago. I've thought of this many times as I've quilted, because somehow, I always have a humility square in my quilts - and yet- I've never intentionally planned one!!! They just seem to show up! It is a reminder to me, also, that God loves me inspite of my imperfections and that through Him I can be made whole and perfect.
It has also occurred to me how our lives are one big patchwork quilt. Sometimes the fabrics of our lives blend and harmonize and compliment each other to make something beautiful and sometimes the pieces don't fit well or clash or create dissonance depending on our choices or other circumstance. Sometimes we have to unpick the seams and sew the patch again, with more patience and attention to detail to make things right. And sometimes things piece together perfectly the first time and all goes according to plan. It means remaining humble, reevaluating our work and never giving up. Eventually, we step back and admire the result. We can be satisfied, happy and fulfilled even with the humility squares of our quilted lives staring us in the face. These squares are what make us unique and interesting, give us experience, and keep us actively striving all the while knowing that God is pleased with our efforts. The true result,then, is not the finished product but the growth that occurred during the creative process.
Just one of the many things I've learned to love about quilting! Please share your thoughts on your own lessons learned about quilting! I would love to hear!
