" Watch your thoughts; they
become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.."
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.."
The Quilt
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
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." |
~Author Unknown~
May all you
quilts be threadbare and worn,
allowing CHRIST
to shine through.