My Quilt

[Teresa]

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 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 my 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, and forgiveness and acceptance of others.
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,and been the object of gossip,which I endured painfully~~
each time offering it up to Spirit, in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental
gaze of those who unfairly judged me...nor who did not know the good of the 'real 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 turned over your problems of 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 the Spirit of the Lord and our angels to shine through.
Remember~~ God and our angels are always there by our side....ready to help and guide us through our life.

All you have to do is "ask"~...~ and believe

Teresa[/color]