The Quilt

[Guest guest]

> >> As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along

> >> with all the other souls.

> >>

> >> Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many

> >> piles. An Angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together

> >> into a tapestry that is our life.

> >>

> >> But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed

> >> how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with

> >> giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had

> >> been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in

> >> everyday life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest

> >> holes of all.

> >> I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny

> >> hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color

> >> and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and

was

> >> disheartened.

> >>

> >> My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and

> >> empty, like binding air.

> >>

> >> Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to

the

> >> light, the scrutiny of truth.

> >> The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled

> >> their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to

> >> rise.

> >> My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly

> >> fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been

> >> trials of illness, and death, and false accusations that took from me

my

> >> world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often

> >> struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the

> >> strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in

> >> prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held

> >> up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to

> >> the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the

> >> judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.

> >>

> >> And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had

to

> >> accept it for what it was.

> >>

> >> I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light.

> >> An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who

> >> stared at me with wide eyes.

> >>

> >> Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many

> >> holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood

before

> >> me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, " Every time you gave

over

> >> your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles.

Each

> >> point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine

> >> through, until there was more of Me than there was of you. "

> >>

> >> May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine

> >> through.

> >>

[Guest guest]

Louise, that was simply beautiful!

Thank you,

Carol

[ ] The Quilt

> >> As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along

> >> with all the other souls.

> >>

> >> Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many

> >> piles. An Angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together

> >> into a tapestry that is our life.

> >>

> >> But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed

> >> how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with

> >> giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had

> >> been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in

> >> everyday life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest

> >> holes of all.

> >> I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny

> >> hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color

> >> and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and

was

> >> disheartened.

> >>

> >> My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and

> >> empty, like binding air.

> >>

> >> Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to

the

> >> light, the scrutiny of truth.

> >> The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled

> >> their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to

> >> rise.

> >> My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly

> >> fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been

> >> trials of illness, and death, and false accusations that took from me

my

> >> world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often

> >> struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the

> >> strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in

> >> prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held

> >> up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to

> >> the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the

> >> judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.

> >>

> >> And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had

to

> >> accept it for what it was.

> >>

> >> I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light.

> >> An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who

> >> stared at me with wide eyes.

> >>

> >> Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many

> >> holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood

before

> >> me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, " Every time you gave

over

> >> your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles.

Each

> >> point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine

> >> through, until there was more of Me than there was of you. "

> >>

> >> May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine

> >> through.

> >>