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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 my squares were.
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 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 gazed 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
through 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.
