"My Quilt"

Started sorting through piles of fabric and WIP's today...determined to finish them between the first day of school and Christmas when I was reminded of this story that someone shared at Quilter's Guild in DeRidder...Remember this, Cynthia(?!)...

"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 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 has 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.

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.

Gasps filled the air.

I gazed around at the others
 who stared at me with wide eyes.

When 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.