QUILT OF HOLES on SPIRITUAL SUNDAY

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

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 every day 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 wealth, 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 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!

(From an email I received a few weeks ago - author unknown.)
Thank you to Charlotte and Ginger for bringing us Spiritual Sundays.