| My 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 God. 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 our Creator to shine through.
Kelly Whittaker |
