If there is anyone out there who loves and remembers the comfort of a handmade quilt, you may get a blessing from this short story I got from a quilter's blog last week. For me, I have been quilting for the last 30 years and can tell you, I stitch my joys and my sorrows into my creations. It is great therapy, joy for my hands as well as my heart. The Lord has allowed me to bless others with my sewing, and He has given me many dear friends through this wonderful artform.
Philippians 4:13 tells us we can do all things through Christ which strenghtens us.
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 squares of a quilt in many piles, an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares 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 I had endured which were the largest of all.
I glanced around. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the others tapestries were filled with rich colors and bright hues of wordly fortune. I gazed on my own life and was disheartened. My angel was sewing 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 own tapestry. So filled had been their lives. My angel looked at me and nodded for me to rise.
My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly forture. I had had love in my life, and laughter. But there had been trials of illness and trials of wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world as I knew it. I had to start over many times, often struggling with temptation to just 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. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to my Father, hoping 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-inspired gasp filled the very 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, "Everytime you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardship, My struggle. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through until there was more of Me than of you."
May all your quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Jesus Christ to shine through!!!
