As I faced my maker on 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.
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 labled 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
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 at my own life
and I 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 in the light...
The scrutiny of Truth,
The others arose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries,
So filled their lives had been
My angel nodded for me to rise
My gaze dropped to the ground in shame,
I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes.
I had had love and laughter in my life.
But there also had been trials of illness and death, and false accusations
that took me from my world as I knew it.
I had to start over many times.
I often struggled with the temptation to quit,
Only to some how must the strength and begin again.
I had spent many nights on my knees in prayer;
Asking for help and guidance in my life.
I often had 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 how 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 into 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 tapestries 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 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 of our quilts be threadbare and ragged, allowing Christ to shine through.