When I was about 10, I was the recipient of cousin's hand-me-downs. These were the first "store-bought" dresses I had. With these dresses and the ones mama made, I had a very nice wardrobe. When I outgrew them, they went to another cousin.  

Those clothes were tried and tested. Buttons fell off, but were sewn back on; seams ripped a little, but they were mended; skirts became too short, so hems were let out and taken up again. The dresses mama made lasted much longer than those from the stores. They were designed and made with love, good fabric and heavy-duty thread. 

Love, good fabric and heavy-duty thread don't go out of style. I learned valuable lessons from watching my mama sew. She put everything she had into all her projects; she selected the very best fabric she could afford; she added a little extra when she could; she gave diligence to the work at hand; she reinforced the seams in my dresses and in my life with heavy-duty thread; and she thanked God for the opportunity to do it all. 

That never goes out of style.

I have a very valuable quilt in my possession. It's made from scraps of fabric I found in mama's house after she passed away. A scrap of a flour sack, the lace from one of my prom dresses, the taffeta from my wedding dress, and the brushed corduroy from my winter coat — all carrying the message of love. That never goes out of style. 

Good people leave an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous (Proverbs 13:22 TNIV).

The Gift for All People by Max Lucado A celebration of God's gift of salvation wrapped in a collection of inspirational stories.

Mary is a retired school teacher and Delta Airlines where she trained new supervisors. She is a Sunday school teacher, mother of two, and grandmother of three grandsons.

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