Stories

Well, The holidays are upon us and that means lots of food! And decorations and yummy smells and hopefully cooler weather. It also means lots of story telling in our house! Every day Lily asks 5 times a day for a story. Here recently she has started telling me stories and it has been so neat to watch as her imagination takes over and she creates. But when it comes to my story telling, I admit, I am not nearly as creative so I usually tell stories from the Bible. Last night we went through Jonah and Joseph and the story of when Jesus was born. (Funny side note: at almost 4 she really is so perceptive but last night as we were talking about Jesus dying on the cross and being buried I asked her what happened when 3 days went by and she proceeded to tell me, rather proudly too, that Jesus went in the belly of a whale!! Hilarious!)

Anyway, we talked about Jesus being born in a manger (Or as Lily says on a farm!! She's 4 so we go with it!) And we even went further back to when the Angel appeared to Mary to tell her about Jesus. Which lead to the discussion of sometimes doing things that scare us or we feel unable to do. And I realize sometimes I may broach topics that seem too adult for my almost 4 year old, but then I see the understanding and acceptance on her face and think, she is soaking it all in and because she is 4 and not 25 learning these things it will be easier for her to walk out her calling. Easier for her to trust the things of God because its what she knows and what she's been taught.

And once Lily has exhausted all questions, and trust me there is always plenty, we change to another story. Each one different and unique. Each person or character walking through life and teaching us lessons.

But because we live in a land of stories my mind has started to wander. Causing me to ask questions like...What will Lily tell her kids and grandkids about me? And what will her kids tell their grandkids? Plainly speaking, what will my story be? What will be the theme of my life? As I sit here and type I think of the people in my life and I can clearly see a definite theme in their lives. The things they taught and believed in. The things they sacrificed for. But what about me?

I think as a believer we would all like to say in the end we lived for Jesus! And I do hope that is said of me in the days to come, but what about the more intimate details, the things my family and close friends see? What have I expressed passion for? What moves me? What would I sacrifice everything for? Some things that jump to mind are my kids and husband, my family, people with no voice, children who have little to no hope left, the local church...these are all things that move me, that I am passionate about but what am I doing with this? James 2:17 says that , "So you see faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds it is dead." Simply put I can be passionate all day long about these things that tug at my heartstrings but if there is no action, no plan to support, encourage or dig deep into the trenches it is pointless, it is dead.

So as I type I am going to once again challenge myself, because we all need reminders of what we have been called to. No more sitting on the sidelines watching as the world falls deeper into hopelessness and despair. No more waiting while God looks to His people to help, aid, love and support the fallen. I don't want Him disappointed in me. It is a time for steps of faith. Because in the end I want people to see a woman of faith but just as importantly a woman of action.