Tapestries of God
Two sides to every story. The inside and the outside.
(Inspired by a visit in Uptown Charlotte selling Threads of Hope Bracelets)
There are two sides to every story.
There is the side that we see and then there is the side that God sees, and God sees it ALL.
Imagine yourself in the middle of two walls, or tapestries. One side is gorgeous and the other not so much.
On one side it may look beautiful on the outside, and throughout the structure, or design containing precious gems, stones, crystals or colors. On the other side could be rocks, bruises, bumps, holes, heartaches, and trials.
No matter what the wall looks like, it has a story to tell. We all have our own stories to share. Where we’ve come from, what we believe, things we have learned, what we do, where we are, and where we are going. Do you see the outside of a person’s story, or do you take the time to hear the whole thing? God sees their heart and goes a little further. I believe God wants us to look at people from a broader perspective. To look up at God and then to remember to look out with love, compassion, interest, and concern. You see, some people don’t want to show the whole story. One wall is all we may ever get. If we aim to love the person, then just maybe the wall they have put up will start cracking. It might take some prayer, hope and action. Then little by little, the beautiful side will unveil. The side that God intended to be there all along.
How can we bless someone else by guiding them along in their story? By being their “gem” in a wall of rocks all cracked.
Every person we meet has a story to tell. It is up to us whether or not our hearts and minds are receptive to listening to it. Are you willing to listen? To choose to see others the way that God sees them with LOVE, or are you just taking in what you know from words, actions, and appearances. Are you just looking at the rock surface? You see everything could look really bad or really good from the outside, but if we don’t take the time to look at the person’s heart, then we are never really looking at them. We are just seeing a facade, or a fake image. We are created in God’s image and we are therefore created to be a mirror of God. When we aren’t mirroring God’s goodness, we feel inadaquete.
You see, there is a whole another world out here, and that would be the open-minded and open-hearted one. It’s so easy to judge another person based on outward appearances, opinions, or beliefs. When we do this, are we loving them?….
Jesus says,
” Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others and you will be forgiven. ” -Luke 6: 37
Let us be the mosaic mirrors, and outward reflections of God’s greatness and beauty.
By the way thank you to everyone I met on that night for your donations and the bracelet sales! Didn’t sell a TON but did make some progress…Thanks to all my friends who are also stepping up to help me sell them… : ) So greatful!
