My Quit

My Quit

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, made form our life.

But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each one of my squares was. They were all filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life. The parts that were difficult filled with 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 and no one 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 angles was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, thread bear and empty, like binding air.

Finally it came time 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 angle looked upon me and nodded for me to rise. My gaze dropped to the ground in shame.

I had had love and laughter in my life. I hadn’t had all the earthy fortunes.

There had also been trials of illness, 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 temptations to quit only to some how mustering 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 also been held to ridicule which I endured painfully, each time though offering it to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the 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.

I rose and slowly lifted my combined squares of my life to the light. An awe of silence filled the air. I gazed at the others who stared at me with wide eyes.

Then I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded through the many holes, creating an image of the face of Christ.

Then our Lord stood before me with love and warmth in his eyes. As he stood there He said “Every time you gave over your life to me it became my life, my hardships, and my struggles. Each spot of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let me shine through until there was more of me than you.