When my daughter Sara was young, she loved for me to read bedtime stories to her. I had always been employed, so our real time together was at night just before she went to sleep. She had her favorite books, and sometimes I thought I would lose my mind if I had to read the same story one more time. I would try to skip ahead or make up exciting new endings shortly after the story began. She was way too smart for that. She could have recited the stories to me....but she wanted to hear me read them to her.
At some point even she got tired of the old standbys. Those were the nights that she would say, "Momma, make up a story." My brain did not function that well at the end of the day. Making up a story was painful for me until I found that if the story started out with, "Once there was a beautiful princess named Sara," that she would give me lots of help filling in the details.
Stories have a way of capitvating us especially if they are true. Hence the "beautiful princess" part hooked Sara each time. When we first get to know people, the best way to learn about each other is through sharing our stories. We all have them. Its so important for us to be able to tell our stories. Especially when it comes to our faith in Christ. It can be as simple as, "Before Christ was in my life, I was ____, and in knowing Christ I am now ____."
I would love to hear not just about your stories, but about what happened when you told someone your story or listened while they told you theirs. I know from experience it becomes such a moment of connection with the other person, a deep understanding of what is important in this life. You are the only one who can tell your story. Learn to do it well.
At some point even she got tired of the old standbys. Those were the nights that she would say, "Momma, make up a story." My brain did not function that well at the end of the day. Making up a story was painful for me until I found that if the story started out with, "Once there was a beautiful princess named Sara," that she would give me lots of help filling in the details.
Stories have a way of capitvating us especially if they are true. Hence the "beautiful princess" part hooked Sara each time. When we first get to know people, the best way to learn about each other is through sharing our stories. We all have them. Its so important for us to be able to tell our stories. Especially when it comes to our faith in Christ. It can be as simple as, "Before Christ was in my life, I was ____, and in knowing Christ I am now ____."
I would love to hear not just about your stories, but about what happened when you told someone your story or listened while they told you theirs. I know from experience it becomes such a moment of connection with the other person, a deep understanding of what is important in this life. You are the only one who can tell your story. Learn to do it well.
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