My Great Love Story

We watched another movie last night which was 'odd', yet I was able to follow the path - going from what 'was' to what 'is'.  It was a story of love, yet lost.   Before we watched it, I had read an email from my little sister who commented after reading my blog, that like my granddaughter, she felt I should write a book.  Of course I laughed at that although that has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl.

So what happens?  During the night I wake up and begin thinking about the movie, and about my life.  I decided, in my sleepiness, that perhaps I would write a book and that the title would be 'My Great Love Story'.  I began thinking back as far as I could remember, and what I would want to tell in the story, discarding many things.  The one consistent thought that kept coming to me throughout my entire life, is God's love for me.

I smiled as I thought about how God has interwoven the threads of my life into a tapestry of beauty.  Not of me, of course, but my life before Him.  Yes, it has a lot of stretched threads where I have chosen to go my own way, but the consistent thing is His love is woven throughout the tapestry, even in those difficult times.  I remember a story.....

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 every day 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 wealth, 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.'

See, He is my great Love Story.  He has never left me, nor forsaken me.  As I run into His arms daily, He supplies all that I need, whether I realize it at the time or not.  He is Faithful to all who come to Him.

What would be your great love story?  I pray it will also be a tapestry of love, woven together by the angels and displayed for all the world to see.

Blessings!