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Yes, it’s true. Our lives are like the tangled backside of an intricate tapestry. We see the knots and threads strewn everywhere and wonder how can anything beautiful come from this mess?

Don’t you wish sometimes God would flip the tapestry over and give you a glimpse of the other side?

It can take years to see a glimpse of God’s tapestry

But seeing it in someone else’s life can encourage us to trust God with our own tapestry. That’s why I update you on the story of Sree, a widow from a country on the other side of the world. She reached out to our ministry when she first lost her husband twelve years ago.

As Sree’s friend, I’ve updated you on her widow’s journey. In part 1, part 2, and part 3, I wrote about her challenges, the underside of her difficult tapestry, and the outcome of good choices to follow Christ.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:10 (ESV)

This is one of Sree’s favorite verses. She and her boys stood firm with Christ and He has cared for them. Here’s what Sree has to say about God’s blessings:

“In a country where we are the minority, we cannot expect much help from the government … A lady … told my eldest son … to change his faith so he can get a full scholarship to pursue his tertiary education. He said no! In spite of all these setbacks in life and never seeing their father’s smile, God in Heaven has blessed these boys abundantly because of their faith in Him since a tender age.

The oldest boy got a scholarship to pursue a degree locally. The second went to UK and a year in US. The youngest finished his high school two years earlier than his peers. He is now studying abroad.”

But these were material blessings. There is more.

Sree is now seeing her family’s impact on those around them that need to see Christ.

Last autumn they visited her in-laws during the Hindu festival of lights where friends and family meditate in the house filled with lit candles and pray to many gods. It’s a beautiful ceremony, but obviously, followers of Christ aren’t to worship before idols.

Instead, they enjoyed time with her in-laws outside the home before the ceremony. Once everyone was expected to go in for worship, the in-laws excused themselves. They respectfully accepted Sree’s faith by not expecting them to participate.

You may wonder why this seems like a glimpse of Sree’s tapestry. It is. I thought about the many times over the years Sree never fought with her in-laws, but showed them the grace, love, and humility of Christ. She in her boys were weaving Christ’s love between them and their father’s family, in spite of any persecution they might have felt.

that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 2:2-3 (ESV)

Each act of love and kindness or turning of the cheek was another messy knot on the underside of Sree’s tapestry of her beautiful life. The love started between Christ, Sree, and her boys and extended to their in-laws who get a glimpse of the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge by seeing Christ in Sree.

And for a moment, at that festival of lights, the boys could see the pretty side of the tapestry. They knew their Christ-like loving was getting through to their loved ones.

How far they had come from the bitter rift over faith years ago. Small steps toward reconciliation between those of opposing faiths reunites loved ones and lays the groundwork to open hearts for Christ.

Never forget the tapestry.

I wonder how little of my tapestry I’m seeing. We get so caught up in our own stories. We have to remember not to think of the tapestry only being complete with an earthly husband by our sides.

Lord help my sisters see their lives differently by hearing Sree’s story. Give them a glimpse of what beautifully woven cloth you are making from their messy lives. Amen