My Dad passed away twenty years ago on February 16th, 2006. It doesn’t seem possible he has been gone that long because I feel him in my heart every day.

I printed this story of “My Quilt” years ago in remembrance of Dad’s birthday and wanted to share it again. We found it in Dad’s desk shortly after he passed and he kept for reasons you will understand after you read it, but most of all because Mom loved to 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 out our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles.

An angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into tapestry the was our life. But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I notice how ragged and empty each of my squares were. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with parts of my life that had been difficult, showing 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 a 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 and 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 gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn’t had all the earthly fortunes. But I had love in my life and laughter. There had also been trials of illness and death, and false accusations that took from 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 wouldn’t 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 through 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 love 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.”