Miriam Clifford's Pages
Each Time you Step Aside
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by Miriam Clifford
Walking through the wilderness of the season on a cold January morning. The beach becomes my home. Always attracted by the power of the ocean…was it the washing, the cleansing, the footprints? All my tears washed away. For those that are given much, much is expected. Not everyone that is called is chosen. If today would be judgement day, what would the Lord say to you and me? My thoughts are so in-depth with the ocean this morning, you hear the water rushing to the Long Island Shore…I could hear it in my spirit: LET GO Miri, Let go...one by one you let go, and let go again, and again…until you hear the silent whisper: PEACE-be still. Silence became the loudest noise. The sun rising in a majestic awe inspiring way…what a morning…inspiration kicked in when I came home, read on: Each Time you Step Aside As I faced my Maker this morning, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls. Before each of us, our lives were laid out, like the cloth squares of a quilt, in many piles. An angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that represented our entire life. As my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares looked. 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 had faced in life every day. The hardships I had endured 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, the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened. Like binding air, my angel sewed together the ragged pieces of cloth that seemed threadbare and empty. The time came when each life had to be displayed and held up to the light-the scrutiny of truth. The others rose, each person holding up their own tapestries; so filled their lives had been. My angel looked up and nodded for me to rise. My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't possessed all the earthly fortunes. I had possessed love and laughter in my life, but there had also been trials of illness, wealth, and false accusations, rejection, that took from me my world. I had needed to start over many times. I had often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I had also spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often endured ridicule. But each time I had offered my pain up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt beneath the judgmental gaze of other people. But 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 the 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 represents each time you stepped aside and let Me shine through until there was more of Me than there was of you." May Christ shine through you! |
