I have three open seats at my dining room table this morning.
It’s just me and my laptop awake at this hour.
I wonder what our conversation would be filled with if you were here joining me for my morning coffee and quiet time. Would we talk about our day? Our journey so far in life? Would we share what God has done in our messes? Would we pray together?
I imagine encouragement would be a plenty.
I pray someday we’ll get that opportunity. Maybe not at 5:30 a.m., with bed-head and in pajamas, but then again, maybe so. We’ll see what God does with that prayer.
Maybe over our second cup of coffee we’d share the beauty of our stories.
Yes, the beauty of our stories.
Not every part of my story is beautiful, mind you. The years of rebellion–against my parents and against God, of trying to find my worth in places I never should have stepped into, of taking my successes to a prideful point, of the times I immersed myself in things my mother wouldn’t have been proud of… those aren’t so beautiful.
But God was with me in all these messes and more. Because He used them to mold me into who I am today, and to draw me to Him, the story He created within me is beautiful.
Yours is beautiful too.
As you look back over the pages of your life, you can probably pinpoint places of His grace, of His mercy, of times when He held your hand through dire circumstances. That time He protected you when you thought your end on this earth had arrived. That moment when He spoke to you through the encouraging words of a friend. And His never-ending, unconditional love.
Oh, how beautiful is His love!
Because of all of this, our stories are amazingly beautiful.
Your story is worth telling. You many not believe you have a story–or one worth sharing–but you do. Your story is significant. Your story is important. Your story is beautiful.
It can extend hope hope to someone who desperately needs it.
It can breathe belief into someone who no longer possesses any.
It can be the salve of healing for a hurting soul.
Friend, continue to share your beautiful story.
I’ll keep sharing mine too.
Blessings!
Julie
It’s a joy to link this post up with Suzie for #livefree Thursday. You’ll be blessed by visiting over there!
Thank you for the reminder that my story is beautiful 🙂 #LiveFreeThursday
It is, Sarah! May you continue to tell it and inspire others. Bless you for stopping by! Have a beautiful day!
Such encouragement here Julie! I love the truth that not every part of my story is beautiful. But because He uses all things, it truly is a beautiful story of redemption! Thank you for your words today! Love you!
Amen, Ellen. A beautiful story of redemption! I love you, too, sweet friend!
Julie, thank you for linking with me today. I love this!
Thank you, Suzie, for hosting the link. It’s a joy to be a part of such great encouragement. Bless you, friend!
Julie, thanks for the encouragement today that our stories are beautiful! #livefree have a great day!
Kim Stewart
Hi Kim! Thank you for stopping in and for sharing. God bless you and your story!
Julie, this is so pertinent. We do each have a story and they are all worth telling for so many are blessed by encouragement, by not feeling alone in their own circumstances, and everything in between. I am finding this reality through my blog as well as writing about caregiving for Soli Deo Gloria Sisterhood, and then by reading the beautiful, the good, the bad and the ugly stories of others because I learn, I feel encouraged and loved and encircled by others with similar concerns. I am reminded of God’s forgiveness and His love. So many reasons and they are all good.
Visiting from LiveFree.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
I’m thrilled you are telling your story, Linda. Yes, I too love learning from others in their stories. Such a gift! God bless you, friend!
Yes! I shared large pieces of my story with a friend just this weekend. And I continued my story with another friend the same day.
What each got out of hearing it was different, because of who and where they are in their journeys.
And what I got from each telling was different too.
I love that you are sharing your story, Kim! And the different ways and parts we can share are beautiful too. Thank you for your presence here today. It’s always a blessing when you stop in! Have a great weekend!
Hi Julie,
Your words are beautiful as always. When we tell our stories, I pray others will be encouraged to start sharing their own. Thank you!
Amen, Kasey! I appreciate you, friend. God bless you as you continue to share yours!