The Story of my Life

About 12 years ago, my sister and I were chosen to speak at the Baccalaureate Ceremony at our High School. It was a huge honor and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to speak to the seniors about the next phase of life.  What could we tell them that we wish we had known at the time? We looked and looked for ideas and prayed about inspiration.  We landed on a theme of "The Story of Your Life". A reminder that each moment, each decision, each day will be combined to create your story.  You are moving to a new chapter and should approach it as an opportunity. Does your story need a plot twist? I remember very vividly a moment in college when I looked in the mirror and the Lord was so gracious to bring the book of James to my mind...."Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like." James 1:23-24. I did not want my story to go down that road - so a plot twist was needed.

As I was preparing for my most recent speaking engagement this theme once again came to my mind.  Reflecting over the passages of my story that have already been written and how the Lord has used good and bad moments to draw me closer to Him.  I prayed and prayed for the Lord to point out moments that others might be able to relate to in their own lives.  

When I finished and read through it for the first time I thought, WOW - this story is a tear jerker! It is filled with ups and downs - twists and turns. Chapters centered around death of loved ones, learning to be married (and stay that way), infertility, miscarriages, and the many trials of parenting.  Sounding like a downer??? If you focus on just that it might, but that is just a piece of it.  I can look back on each of these painful moments and see how God used and continues to use them to shape my story.  God has turned these horrible events into moments to Glorify His Name.  There have also been many moments of laughter, celebration and blessings woven in to make the story complete.

Like every story, there are some moments that I would like to cover up with White Out (young people won't even know what that is!!!).  Unfortunately, in earthly terms those moments are a part. I am thankful that because I accepted Christ that He not only used White Out - he erased them completely from His story.  Like everyone, I am not proud of some chapters - but am learning how I can use them to make the next chapter better.  

There are many chapters of hilarious moments - one chapter includes me knocking a bag of candy corn on the CEO of my bank. As he got out of my car he had to take his shoes off to pour out the remaining kernels.  Or when Mary-Peyton was little and John would turn on the vacuum cleaner and she would stop crying. I would sit and cry and just knew she would become a vacuum cleaner addict.  I can assure you she has no addiction to the vacuum and feels no need to use one to this day :)  

I am thankful to see how the Lord has and is using my life. How the funny, the hard, and the in between are woven into my story. I am most grateful that while I gave my life to Him 35 years ago - it is the moments since then that have built my testimony.  I am also thankful for YOU - if you are reading this you are a part of that story.  My story can be called a drama, sometimes a comedy, but mostly a reality show full of grace.  

"For it is by grace you have been saved, thru faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift from God - not by works, so that no one can boast." Eph 2:8-9