March 2007
The Legacy
by Sandy Ohlman
I have a quilt in my linen cupboard I purchased around 20 years ago. It doesn’t match anything I’ve ever owned. As a matter of fact, when I bought it I knew it was unlikely that I would ever use it for decorative reasons, yet, I have protected it, and continue to reserve it for special use only. It’s very valuable to me because of it's history. That quilt represents the life of someone who has left a legacy for which I am truly grateful.
When I purchased the quilt I was nineteen, she was ninety and as active and productive as ever. Her name was Louie Hoover. Now, unless you have grown up in the little bedroom community of Stouffville, outside Toronto, during the 1900's, you probably have never heard of Miss Hoover. In my eyes, she will live on in infamy as a great woman. A quiet, intelligent, stately woman of rare wisdom and grace. She was a respected leader in our church, with or without a designated title. She was truly a leader. Her gentle, ever present, welcoming smile was the welcome mat of her soul. She exemplified an elegance of which I have rarely seen the equal. She was raised in a Mennonite community and her simplicity was a great part of her beauty. Louie made a tremendous impact on my life yet, I rarely spoke to her, had no real connection except during a single year when her sister Mable was my “Secret Pal” while I participated in a church program called “Pioneer Girls”. During that year I was privileged to be a guest in their home for dinner. We ate a simple meal and played some very old board games. I have never forgotten that evening or those two dear ladies.
This story of Louie Hoover’s life serves as a reminder to all of us. What people are really looking for is not some huge earthshaking act of faith but simple acts of love. Humanity is longing to see an everyday human life of stability and grace modeled before their eyes. They are searching for the truth and goodness of God. In simple terms, people see His nature in us, before they “see” Him for themselves. What I saw in Miss Hoover’s life was the beauty of simplicity, the strength of faith towards God and the purity of small acts of service. Those “small” acts have made a very large impact on my life. Like the stitches used in the many quilts she made, seemingly invisible, small and delicate, her kindness wove the love of God throughout many lives, including mine. So much so, that as a young, soon to be married woman at a church quilt auction, I passed on many beautiful, stylish designs and set my heart on one special item: the first quilt Louie had ever made when she was only ten years old. Something about that quilt represented her life; her childlike heart. The truth is, I wanted more than her quilt, I wanted her simple, stately, loving life.
Be inspired today; remember that the greatest mark is often the result of the most tender touch. As you serve the Lord and your generation stop and smile, eye to eye; listen, really listen to someone’s heart and embrace them with kindness; cherish those that God has entrusted into your care; live simply and give richly. Most of all, enjoy the sweet, satisfying companionship of God, Himself. These are the small details that when pieced together make up for a wonderful life, an unforgettable life that creates a legacy. The hopeful result: someday, young women will come along behind us and “buy into” the grace of God, making it their own, cherishing it and living it out before their generation.
I won’t be making a quilt any time soon, but like Louie Hoover, I will make a difference in my generation and leave a legacy, by covering people with the love of God.
