Stitches of Love & Thanks by Judy Panula "If life gives you scraps, stitch a quilt!" Six years ago I went through surgery and treatment for cancer. After I recovered I was filled with joy that God had helped me through this difficult time and blessed me with caring family and friends. I never felt alone. Even though being away from family was hard and the treatment regimen was grim, I always knew His loving arms were around me, holding me close, giving me strength to get through one day at a time. When I recovered from my treatments and my hair was growing back, I searched for a way to express my thanks to God for all He had done for me. One day a friend called. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer and asked for my love and support. I was looking through my stash of material when I found a print that reminded me of her. I stitched up a little "care quilt" and sent it to her with a note saying I was praying for her and would be there for her. Since then I have stitched more than 40 care quilts and given them away. I am always looking for that special piece of fabric for each quilt. It has been a healing gift from God to work on these quilts. My faith grows with each stitch as I remember God's promises. I know God is near, and I think often of my mother and grandmothers, who taught me to stitch when I was young. Each day has more meaning for me than before I had cancer. God has given me many blessings these last six years. I got to see my son graduate from high school and college and grow into a man. I got to hold two new granddaughters and watch three girls grow. I have had six more years to share with my loving husband. And I've had God's help in saying goodbye to my mother and mother-in-law. God works in our daily lives, stitching the minutes, hours and days to weave a patchwork through rainy and sunny days. Through the everyday happenings of our lives-in our work, our families, our pastimes-He is stitching His love. It is a joy to share my stitches of love and thanks with others. Judy Panula, from Newberry, MI, is helping start a group at her church to make care quilts. The first ones are "freedom care quilts" designed for congregation members who are serving in the military.