I have been thinking about our stories and how they are begun by God...who knew us in the womb, before we were born...even knowing our Name. God who planned for us...anticipated our birth. Our life.
How as we grow our stories are impacted by people around us. How stories of one another begin to intersect and sometimes bounce off one another. The fact that we all interpret our stories differently, through different filters.
This is illustrated when we are sharing memories and to one, the memory is clear and vivid and to his sibling the memory barely is in consciousness. We remember what is important to us.
Our stories are about who God created us to be and about how we then choose to love and live. AND our stories are about living within HIS Story for us....as we are who He created us to be, doing what He created us to do.
We could 'feast' upon one another's stories if we choose to be brave and courageous. Learn from one another, encourage one another...spur one another on. Nourish one another...
When a person tells part of his story to friends and they react with 'rules' and judgments, it shuts the storyteller down. What if, instead, they had come alongside, offered to walk with as this person dealt with the need?
Client's stories often encourage and bring HOPE and cheer into our lives. The client who is dealing with becoming blind...and yet, is very often able to live a 'can do' attitude...or able to laugh at herself for odd things happening as she's not able to see well...
The client whose story includes being raised in foster care and aging out...at first being prickly and suspicious of why people want to help. And hearing this week about how she joined in a group and had conversation with strangers. Her 'back story' is full of challenges...and currently we are seeing change and transformation happening. How will her 'back' story contribute to her future story?
And then there is the client who is in and out of jail and is older. How did his story begin? At what point did this pattern become his 'normal?" And where are the story tellers that can speak hope into his life? Story tellers whose walk with Jesus is currently overflowing with passion and love and hope?
However we are living, we are creating our story. How can our stories be for God's glory?
Just being WITH someone as they live their story...loving, supporting, speaking hope and truth...is a great beginning. Kick judgment out at this point and be real and authentic with one another. Be a grace giver...one who serves up heaping helpings of it!
And then choose to have purpose filled conversations about things that truly matter. Listen deeply to one another's stories. Celebrate God's faithfulness in those...and weep when needed at injustices, unknowing's...be real.
We have His Story. We are living our Stories...hopefully for His Glory! How is this happening in your life today?
Be BLESSED~~
LaCheri
Call Center Manager