quilts

Quilts

As I faced my Maker at the Last Judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with other souls. Before each of us in many piles laid our lives like the squares of a quilt. An angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry which is our life.

But as my angel took each piece of cloth of the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares were. 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 faced in everyday life. I saw the hardships I endured had the largest holes of all.

I glanced around me 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 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 and laughter in my life. But there had also been trials of illness, death, and false accusations that took my world as I knew it from me. I had to start over many times and 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 in 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.

Now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was. I had to accept it for what it was

I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares on my life to the light. A gasp of awe 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."

Morale: May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through.

Dog Wisdom

From Wing and a Prayer

Dog Wisdom

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The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.--Anonymous

Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful.--Ann Landers

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.--Will Rogers

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.--Ben Williams

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.--Josh Billings

The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.--Andy Rooney

We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made.--M. Acklam

I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult.--Rita Rudner

A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down.--Robert Benchley

Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog.--Franklin P. Jones

If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have known will go to heaven.--James Thurber

If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise.--Unknown

My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to $3.00 a can. That's almost $21.00 in dog money.--Joe Weinstein

Ever consider what our dogs must think of us? I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul -- chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth!--Anne Tyler

Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.--Robert A. Heinlein

You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, "Wow, you're right! I never would've thought of that!"--Dave Barry

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.--Roger Caras

If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them.--Unknown

And the best quote of all:

My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am.--Unknown