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The Quilt

vinc

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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 together into a tapestry that is our life.

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 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 the 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, holding 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 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 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 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 wide eyes.

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. 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.

Please share this with someone you love, care about or even someone who needs Jesus in their heart. They may scoff, but at least the seed has been planted, and God will do the rest. May God bless you today and Forever.
 

vinc

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Dear Ziwei,

One really can't say that "the most depressed, persecuted, painful, and unhappy life mean the best sort of Christian life". But, for our Spirit to reach higher degrees of holiness and perfection, God has to allow sufferings. Sufferings are actually Blessings!

There is great happiness in suffering for God. A Man of God who suffered much throughout his life said "If we bear the Cross (suffering), the Cross itself bears us.". And he also said that he experienced great peace and happiness during the sufferings. So, we need not worry if trials or sufferings come along in our life. God WILL SURELY show us great love and mercy during the times of suffering. He will grant us the strength to bear it. We are bound to feel His presence close to us. God would also save and deliver us from the suffering IF it is still not our time to go to heaven to be with Him eternally.

Hope that answers your question.

May the Lord Bless You & Your Loved Ones,
Vincent :)
 
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This is a beautiful story Vincent. It captures the essence of how we can make it through struggles several times in our lives with God in our path. It shows that faith in what we can not see , or continuing to move on beyond struggle, will be the only way to a finished quilt - the entrance into Heaven. Here are some questions to ponder....

1. What do you feel about the joys in life that God brings you? Do you feel that there are joys in your quilt that will be sown into it?

However, do you seek the Joy and Love that God also provides along with the suffering? God loves us very much and doesn't want us to suffer. He wants us to rejoice and be happy - but wants us to have faith in him during times of suffering - as your story very much signigies.

2. Because you believe that suffering brings one closer with God, as I agree, it will if credit can be seen as God to the sufferer. Does this mean that joy brings one farther away from God? Would you seek to stay away from anything joyful - afraid that it may not create those holes, but rather, create colorful solid blocks?

and 3. Assuming you are a fluent writer, do you believe that one's entrance into heaven is soley based on faith? What about love, kindness, righteousness?

Your story was beautiful. I like to challenge ones intent. I will share it with many ,as it captures the mind in a wonderful way. God Bless You and your symbolism.
 
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macspetra

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I find it interesting how different people get different things out of a story like this. This helped encourage me as I have a tendency to kick myself when I am down. Only God can see the whole "quilt" that is being woven throughout our lives. I find it frustrating when I don't seem to have it all together, but who really does? When we are broken is when God can finally work within us and shape us into what we are supposed to be.
Much thinking to be done.
Thank you.
 
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ronaldp

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Dear Loverofeternity

On your 2nd question I think that just because you are joyful it doesn't mean that you are farther away from God because your joy came from God and joy is not necessarily the opposite of suffering. In fact from suffering comes out joy. Because from suffering we learn perseverance and we get closer to God. What other things that can give you more joy than being closer to God and being with God. As a Christian we will face suffering, it's one of those inevitable things. When we suffer, we should go to God because only He could end our suffering and gives us joy. Suffering is a blessing from God and not something that is bad. :) :)
 
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Catherineanne

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Ziwei said:
Does the most depressed, persecuted, painful, and unhappy life mean the best sort of Christian life? Or does God just show us love and mercy in times of suffering?
I am not sure why, but in some way it seems as if those who meet suffering with fortitude and patience are contributing far more to this world and the next than they realise; as if they are trully gaining treasure in heaven.

Saints through the ages have recognised this fact, and that God confers great blessing at the same time as he allows suffering. I do not know how this works, but I am sure from my own experience that it does. Once upon a time Christians would seek out suffering by mortifying their flesh through starvation or hair shirts etc, which we would now see as rather weird and unnecessary behaviour, but in a sense they were on the right track of not seeking out comfort and prosperity as the last word, but looking beyond this dimension to the spiritual realm, where our actions are transformed.

In a sense, joy, love and faith are relatively easy when you are happy. But faith which keeps hold, in spite of suffering, has got to be more valuable. When God sees tears in our eyes I am sure he shares those tears, but if he hears us say 'thy will be done' at the same time, I think that is special to him. And if we cannot say that, but only have our pain to offer, then that too is a sacred offering. He will not break the bruised reed.

Cathy
 
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