The Quilt

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 quilt squares

together into tapestries that represented our lives. 

  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 had endured,

which were the largest holes of all.

I glanced around me.  No one 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. 

Finally, the time came when each life was to be displayed,

held up to the light. . . the scrutiny of truth. 

 The others arose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries. 

So filled their lives had been!

My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to arise. 

 My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. 

I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. 

 I had 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 up

 to the Father in hopes that I would not melt

within my skin beneath the critical

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 arose 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.

Our Lord then 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.

Author Unknown