I love it April.  Isn't it the truth.

--
Christ is either Lord of all or he is not Lord at all.
Karen Carter '74



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>                                    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.  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 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  ~
>
>
> April Reisinger
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