Our Stories

"Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story..." Psalm 107:2

When you sit on a story for a long, long time you get bored with it. You start to second guess yourself and wonder, "Who cares, anyhow?" You've read it, told it, written it over and over again until you want to throw it away. But it doesn't go away. It's YOUR story. Everything you've written is true and it matters.

I knew last night that today I'd have to postpone my writing retreat until the afternoon or evening. Our Maine coon cat looked up at me Sunday, with three eyelids showing...not a pretty sight...and I knew she needed some medical attention. Her vet appointment wasn't until late this morning; early enough that it wouldn't allow me enough time to get to my writing and late enough that I had to keep an eye on where the cat, "Moaning Myrtle", wandered off to after breakfast.

Killing some time, I decided to read the newspaper. My eyes skimmed the articles, but my mind was interrupting. I really felt I'd let myself down; like I'd never reach my writing goal for today. I starting thinking, "What's the use? Who really cares about my story or this book idea, anyway?" My eyes finally interrupted my thought as the title of an award-winning essay written by a young girl in town caught my attention: "Divorce". As I read her words, I realized I was reading MY story. Her struggles were my struggles. Her vivid recollections were the same as mine. My heart connected with hers, another daughter of divorce. The only difference was our names and end of the story.

Endings. That's why I NEED to tell my story. It can change the entire ending to HER story and many other endings to many other stories of many other daughters of divorce. There is one who gives us hope and a future; one who never leaves us nor forsakes us; one who forgives and teaches us how to forgive. His name is Jesus.

We all have a story. We've all weathered some storms. And for those of us who've found healing for our wounds, we need to tell our stories and help change the ending of someone elses story.

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8

"...He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness the prisoners..." Isaiah 61:1b