Patched up hearts
By Kathy Yoder

Annie’s a middle aged woman who is “home-challenged” as she likes to say. The only clothes she has are the ones she’s wearing. They’re patched with a variety of fabrics and colors. She wonders if her original clothes are gone. She has patches on top of patches. “I’m so lucky I know how to sew,” she thinks to herself.

A little cart is her constant companion. It’s filled with her necessities and her treasures – the greatest one being the Holy Bible. She’s had it since she was a young girl. Annie finds a suitable sleeping spot under a viaduct. She unfolds newspapers and lies down. Holding her Bible close to her heart, Annie prays, “Lord, sometimes I feel so alone. I know you watch over me, but how do I know if I’m living the life you want me to. I wish there was a way I could know.” Annie falls asleep.

Annie dreams she’s in Heaven. Every person she sees is wearing patched up clothes. Not the gossamer gowns she’s imagined – flowing white, lighter than air. No, everyone here’s dressed as if they’re going to a Holly Hobby costume party.

Annie walks into a large room. Without turning around, an angel says, “You’re not supposed to be here.”

“I’m sorry. I must’ve taken a wrong turn.” But Annie doesn’t leave. She walks to one of the gigantic windows, the size of an entire wall. “What’s this for?”

“This is an observation window. I’m checking on people on earth.”

“Wow!” she says, her nose pushing against the glass. “Look at all the beautiful clothes! They’re so pretty.”

“Yes they are,” the angel says sadly. “Yes they are.”

Annie looks at him closer. “You’re crying.” She touches his tears. “Why?”

“I feel so sad when I see these humans.”

“The ones in the beautiful clothes?”

“That’s right. Their clothes reflect their journey.”

“I don’t understand,” says Annie. “I’ve never had clothes that beautiful, but I’d like to.”

“No, Annie, you don’t,” he says, looking at her patches. “Have you noticed that all the people up here are dressed in patched up clothes?”

“Yep, I sure fit in, don’t I?” Annie laughs.

“Annie. You have no idea how well you fit in, but it’s not your time. You have to go back.”

“Right now?” asks Annie.

“No, you can stay a little while. You know how to sew, Annie, right?”

“Yep. I used to do alterations.”

“What’s the first thing you do when trying to make a dress fit?”

“I rip out all the seams I need to change. Then about half the work’s already done.”

“That’s right, Annie. It’s the same with faith. We ask God to make alterations on us so that we can be more like him. That’s when he really goes to work in our lives. It’s not always pretty. In fact, sometimes we end up frayed and faded, ragged and tired. Patches on top of patches. But when all the ripping out has finished He says, ‘Because my son died on the cross, all the real ripping out has already been done. What I’m ripping now are the areas filled with worldly things.’ So all the people with patches…”

“…they’re the ones God really knows, right?”

“Yes, Annie. They’re the ones who say, ‘Make me more like you. Rip out what I don’t need. Patch in what you want.’”

“What about all those people on earth with the beautiful clothes?”

“They’re the ones whose lives are filled with perfect stitches. Like their beautiful clothes, they look great on the outside. But on the inside their hearts are tiny and hard. You see, our hearts can only grow if Jesus lives inside them. He fills our hearts with love and they grow forever. Sometimes they grow so much and so fast that they seem to burst. That’s when Jesus patches them up.”

“I think I understand,” says Annie.

“Annie, you’re filled with patches because you’re filled with the love of Jesus.”

Annie wakes up. Still wearing her patched clothes. Still sleeping on newspapers. Still clutching her Bible. Smiling, she says, “Thank you Lord, for my patched up heart.”

Kathy Yoder is a devotional writer.