A dear friend called this morning to vent her grief. She just lost her mom in an horrific way, and she needed to express the myriad of emotions coming over her in swells and waves. As she told her story, so many things struck me.
The authenticity of what she confessed in the rawness of loss.- How hard we are on ourselves, but most of all, when tough times hit.
- How precious snippets of laughter are in the healing process, and permission to do it.
- The benefit of tears, designed with natural antibodies by a loving God, so we would have the right medicine when needed.
- The power of friendship and a listening ear when agony is in your gut.
- How the person on the hearing end of a story receives their own healing boosters as the teller shares.
- How important it is to give someone approval to mourn fully and openly.
- The need to forgive ourselves for real and imagined flaws.
- How Jesus shows Himself in still, small ways, flutterings of love brushed throughout our pain.
- The strength we get from knowing the Bible, understanding what God says and thinks about things, and how on this foundation, we have a solid footing to stand on.
I heard all of this and more from my hurting friend.
As a bonified storyteller, in the author/speaker/coaching profession, I know the impact our stories have on others. Stories help us know we are not alone. Stories give us courage to act. Stories inspire us to do more than we thought possible. Stories teach us lessons. And stories help us dissect our own lives, problems, concerns, so we are able to make wiser decisions.
Our stories matter because they help us heal, but they also matter because they speak hope into the lives of others. A personal story of God’s power at work in your life isn’t just about you, it’s also about the greater good it can bring about. 
Our stories matter not just in the aftermath of the event that created them, but they matter in the midst of living them out. A favorite Bible scripture Job 38:1 (NIV), says, “Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:…”
My friend was speaking from the midst of an emotional storm this morning. But so was God.
Here’s why our stories matter — they bring us together. They bond us. They spread soothing balm over our wounds. Without stories, life would be boring and it would be hard to make sense of things. But as it is, God, the great Drama King, Inventor of Story, shows us how to find wholeness and joy through the re-living of the events of our lives.
Your story is our story. Our story is His story. Whatever you’ve gone through, whatever you’re going through, don’t keep your story to yourself. For your own healing and the greater good of another wounded soul, open yourself up, and discover purpose in your pain. Someone today, needs to hear what you have to share.
How has someone else’s story spoken to you?
Anita Fresh Faith
Mark 4:33-34 (MSG)
“With many stories like these, he presented his message to them, fitting the stories to their experience and maturity. He was never without a story when he spoke. When he was alone with his disciples, he went over everything, sorting out the tangles, untying the knots.”
Anita Brooks motivates others to dynamic break-throughs. Blending mind, heart, and spirit, as an Inspirational Business/Life Coach, International Speaker, and award-winning Author. Her latest book, released through Barbour Publishing, is Getting Through What You Can’t Get Over.
Anita is also author of First Hired, Last Fired — How to Become Irreplaceable in Any Job Market, released by Leafwood Publishing, Death Defied-Life Defined: A Miracle Man’s Memoir, and contributor to The Change Book Series. Her titles are available at all major bookstores, Amazon, plus other online retailers.
She is also host of the Fresh Faith Inspirations podcast. In all she does, Anita fulfills her mission to help 21st century women and men make fresh starts with fresh faith by sharing what she’s learned through experience, interviews, and research.
She’s energized by overcoming adversity, work with integrity, healthy relationships, identity issues, and abundant living. Anita inspires audiences all over the world to believe as she does — in business, as in life and love, it’s never too late!
Anita’s favorite pastime is watching sunsets with her husband of 30 years, while they laugh and dip their toes in the water. Her favorite passion is inspiring others to take life’s battles, and transform them into victories.
You can connect with Anita on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn, or Twitter. Keep up with Anita’s latest happenings at anitabrooks.com. Email anita@anitabrooks.com to request information on having Anita speak or train at your next event.
Leave a Reply