The Tapestry

As the cock crowed, sunlight leaked through the wooden chinks of the log cabin and a gnarled old woman lifted herself from the quilted bed. She slowly made her way to the corner where stood her loom. Painstakingly polished and oiled, the loom was in perfect order, ready to build, to create; ready to perform a miracle. Around the loom, in meticulously twisted loops and balls, was the thread, a myriad of colors piled high in deep rainbow mounds. All the colors of sunlight shone there; there sparkled every shade of the sea. And there, the woman sat down to start working. Deliberately, she began her magic, weaving together the separate threads to build what would be a glorious whole. As she worked, the front door creaked slowly open. Two wide, curious blue eyes peered around the threshold, followed by a shock of unkempt, rough blond hair. Slowly, the boy crept into the room and crouched quietly beside the old woman. Nevertheless, she continued her work, unbothered by his steady gaze. For hours he watched her, staring at the jumble of threads and the rough confusion that began to develop from the rainbow fibers. The boy watched, fascinated, until the sun was sucked down over the horizon and darkness consumed the daylight. The very next morning, the boy returned to watch the woman take her place at the loom. The next day was the same, and the next, and the next. Always silent and attentive, he studied her every move as her hands slid among the fabric with strength and grace. Her project seemed a mystery to his young eyes. How would her swiftly moving fingers along with the steady rhythm of the loom ever transform single threads into a whole fabric? Again and again he visited the little cabin and slowly, but surely, her creation began to take shape. The work went on for days, it continued for weeks, and finally it stretched into months. At last, for the first time, the old woman spoke. Firmly, quietly, and with full confidence she uttered, “It is finished.” Tenderly, lovingly, she laid the cloth over a chair and leaned back with a sigh of pride. Somehow, however, it wasn’t what the boy expected it to be. In fact, he somehow felt frustration welling up inside him at the sight of the finished product. He could only stare at it. The woman turned to him, “What is wrong, child?” she asked. With disappointment so strong, he could almost taste it, the boy shook his head. “It’s done?” he demanded, incredulous, “That’s all?” The woman only nodded. The boy was obviously disturbed, even upset. “But......it’s a mess!” he ran his fingers over the tangled web of knots and snarls. “You spent so many hours....and this is all?” He rushed to the piles of thread. “Why did you use these ugly colors?” he demanded “Maybe that’s why it’s so, so....ugly.” he held pieces of thread in his hand: a rough brownish orange piece and a dirty olive green strand. “Some of these pieces have even been knotted together where the thread broke.” For some reason the boy felt deep concern for creation that wasn’t even his own. “But Child, I also used lovely, whole pieces.” the woman reminded him softly, patiently.“Look” she held up to the light an iridescent silvery strand that caught the sun and threw it back, a beautiful, shining piece of moonlight, dangling from her fingertips. “It is the many different pieces together that make the masterpiece. Until now, you have never seen my work from my side of it. Of course it is a mess to you, but I will show you how things really are.” Carefully, she lifted the cloth and turned it around. There lay the most magnificent tapestry he had ever laid his eyes upon. Words could never describe the brilliant colors blended together in perfect harmony....a masterpiece such as few have ever seen. All the boy could think was that this, this was undoubtedly a precious treasure fit for a King.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.”-Romans 8:28 God uses the good, the bad and the ugly in our lives to make us into the beautiful creations He has planned us to be. While all we may see is the tangles and knots of our confused existence, God sees the whole. And it is good. For He has dreamed glorious things for you and He will make it happen in your life. So do not despair in the heartbreak and do not grow faint in the fire; He is melting your heart to reshape it into the very heart of God. For He has began a good work in you and He will carry it on into completion. Praise be to His glorious grace!