As I faced my Maker
at the last Judgment,
I knelt before the Lord
along with 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 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 had 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 diheartened.
My Angel was sewing the
ragged pieces of cloth together,
thread bare 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 had 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 upto 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 had been.
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 eyes wide.

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 thread
bare and worn, allowing
Christ to shine through.

God Bless Us All
Thank you for visiting with me!
Joan

5-12-2001

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