As she faced her Maker at the last judgment, she knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls.
Before each of them lay their lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles; an angel sat before each of them, sewing their quilt squares together into a tapestry that was their life.
But as her angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, she noticed how ragged and empty each of her squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of her life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations she was faced with in every day life. She saw hardships that she had endured, which were the largest holes of all.
She glanced around her. 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. She gazed at the tapestry of her own life and was disheartened.
Her 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. Her angel looked at her and nodded for her to rise.
Her gaze dropped to the ground in shame. She hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. She did have love and laughter in her life, though. There had also been trials of illness and wealth and false accusations that took from her, the world as she knew it. She had to start over many times. She often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. She spent many nights on her knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in her life. She had often been held up to ridicule, which she had painfully endured, each time offering it up to the Father in the hope that she would not melt within her skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged her.
And now, she had to face the truth.. Her life was what it was and she had to accept it for what it was.
She rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of her life to the light.
An awe-filled gasp filled the air. She gazed around at the others who stared at her with wide eyes.
Then she looked at the tapestry before her. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then Jesus Christ stood before her, 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, was 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!
When there is nothing left but God, that is when we find out that God is all we need.
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