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 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 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,
held 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 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 help 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 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
these 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,
and 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.

And He said, "Everytime 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 you quilts be threadbare and worn,

allowing CHRIST to shine through.

~Author Unknown~