S is for Story

We've all got a story.

Back in the day, people lived in communities.  Whole generations worked together everyday.  In the evenings, they sat on their porches to rest, sip sweet tea, and share stories.  Neighbors would drop by and tell their stories.

You grew up knowing how Mr. and Mrs. Smith met and got married, how Grandpa did at his first job, the secret to Aunt Clara's fabulous dumplings and Grandma's sure-fire secret to quieting a colicky baby.  

You learned from everyone's story.

God knew that we learned best from stories so He included a bunch of stories in His Word.  What I love best is that He included the whole story.  You didn't just learn about how David defeated the giants in his life but also about the mistakes he made.  How he committed adultery when he wasn't where he was supposed to be. You learned about his genuine repentance and sorrow and the consequences of his sin.  It's all there.

I identify with the stories about Peter in the New Testament because I often speak before I think, too. I learn from the stories of Paul's perseverance, of Mary Magdalene being the first person mandated to "go and tell," of Timothy being reminded to not let a spirit of fear overtake him because God gave him power, love and a sound mind.

Of course, the greatest story of all is how the King of the Universe chose to take on flesh and live with the poorest of the poor.  How He poured out His life as a sacrifice so that the very ones He created could treat Him cruelly. His story is that He made that sacrifice so there could be a good ending to our story.

Nowadays, we don't sit on porches and share our stories with friends and neighbors. Instead of a front porch, we have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and blogs.  (I mustn't forget blogs!)  The point is, we can still share our stories.  I need to know the fantastic way you found to save money, decorate a home, feed your family delicious meals, and organize your life so that you have more time to spend with your loved ones.  I need to know how you solve the problem of missing socks, forgotten homework and colicky babies. I need to know how you improve your marriages and build family traditions.  Even more, I crave knowing how you made strides in your spiritual maturity, your insights into scripture and your miraculous prayer victories that God has done for you.

I need to know about your faith journey and I need the knowledge I'm not alone.  You've been there, too. I need to know how you keep on keeping on, even when it looks bleak.

Everyone has a story, and I need to hear yours.


This post was written in community with the April A-Z blogging challenge.  To read others' work, go here.