It’s cold outside today, and I’m wearing a scarf. But not just any scarf. This scarf has more value to me than any I could buy in a store.

About twelve years ago, one of my daughters was very sick. She suffered excruciating pain, unexplained fever, and hives for months. Every day she tediously did up to four hours of physical and occupational therapy. It was exhausting and frightening for her and I was an emotional mess.

That’s when a church member presented me with this scarf as a gift. She said, “With every stitch, I said a prayer for your daughter.” I fell into a pile of grateful tears. Someone had seen our struggle and prayed, and this was a visible symbol of her gift of faith. I wrapped my heart in those prayers and my neck in that scarf.

Although my daughter and I both knew the power wasn’t in the scarf itself, to us it was a reminder to pray. I wore it to her therapy sessions, to her doctor appointments, and years later to her college auditions.

The scarf is made up of many different colors and many textures, and that’s what makes it so beautiful. Today I think about the many gifts that people of all colors have to offer and what a beautiful family we can be together.