Comforters

My mother used to make comforters, two or more for every bed occupied by the six of us children. I remember the flannel, usually in somber stripes, being laid out on the big dining room table. On top of this, Mama laid a thick layer of batting and covered that with a second flannel. The edges were stitched on the sewing machine, and the whole was tied in a neat, squared-off pattern with colored yarn. We saw no particular value in handmade items, because that was all we knew. In those days, it would never have occurred to us to purchase a quilt or comforter. Now I would gladly exchange my bright floral bed covering stitched in a flowing pattern for one of those old tied comforters, just because they are so—comforting!

The very word "comfort" brings to my mind being secure, even enclosed—like being wrapped up in the comforter my mother had made. "Are you comfortable?" someone asks us, and yes, we feel an atmosphere of warmth and safety and ease. "I'm not comfortable with that," we protest in some situation, and it may be because we feel uncertain or exposed. A parent offers the safety of their arms to the child who is injured, or a friend puts an arm around us when we are hurting; they are giving comfort.

God too provides comfort. In fact, one of the Trinity is specifically assigned the job description of "Comforter." Various Bible translations give descriptive names for this person: Friend, Advocate, Encourager, Counselor, Helper, Strengthener, Standby. The Greek paraklētos literally means "called to one's side," capable and ready to give aid. However, God does not comfort us just so we can be comfortable, but so that we become comforters too—friends, encouragers, helpers, ready to give aid.

The Apostle Paul wrote, "God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you." (II Corinthians 1:3-6)

Our experiences of difficulty are not wasted, for when God gives us strength and encouragement, He then can use us to help another person who is weak or discouraged. The movie script writers were not the first to come up with the idea of "paying it forward"!

MaryMartha

The movie reference is to the 2000 feature, "Pay It Forward," based on the novel of the same name. A student's project to "change the world" involves not paying back the person who has helped you, but instead paying it forward to other people.

The Scripture quotation is taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.