Every [wo]man has a story…what’s mine?
Meeting new people, especially other believers, is sometimes a challenge for me. Among the first round of questions is usually something like this: “So, what’s your story?” I typically sit there stunned and puzzled on where to even begin. Such a broad question doesn’t always generate a specific answer. Do I tell them about my parents? They have some cool stories. We are seriously trying to get my dad’s story on Netflix one day…if anyone has any connections *wink wink.* But no, they asked about me…hmmm.
I grew up thinking that I didn’t have a story. I didn’t have a rags to riches story like so many people famous people. It seemed like the heroes that came to my school or church begin their life journeys as orphans… or amputees… or victims of sexual misconduct… or cancer survivors… or genocide survivors. While these stories are always inspiring and truly encouraging, I don’t share the history, thus believing that my story was less than.
There I am in this awkward standstill, deliberating whether or not I should slightly exaggerate certain details to make it a good one. But I am reminded about one of the things that I love about God. He really doesn’t need our phony exaggerations or orchestrations to make a good story. He can do that all by Himself. Looking back on what I consider to be big moments in my life, I can see the Lord’s hand in the smaller moments too, leaving some awesome stories.
So the best story I can share is understanding that I was truly saved by grace. I shared a bit of this thought in an earlier blog…things are sometimes better the second time around.
Matthew 20 tells a parable of the laborers in a vineyard. In this story, there were workers that began early with the landowner and many other workers that were accumulated throughout the day. When it came time for the workers to be paid their wages, the workers that started in the morning complained that their wages were the same as those who just began in the evening. You see, the workers thought they deserved more.
This is my story. I was that worker that started early in the morning. In other words, I began this Christian journey early in my life. Growing up in a Christian household as preacher’s kid, we were always in church. I went to Awana and received the highest award that you could receive before advancing to youth ministry. We did weekly Bible drills, a competition on finding random Scriptures before your opponent. I had daily quiet times. I didn’t curse like the other kids. I didn’t participate in underage drinking like the other kids. I maintained sexual purity. I mean I was “solid.” Surely, Christ died for me but my pride was screaming that He didn’t really need too. My works proved that I was a faithful follower of Christ; therefore, I am deserving of all the good things of life. I remember a few blessings that I received in my teenage years and literally thinking, “It’s about time, God. Why didn’t I get this sooner?”
In verse 15 of that same chapter, the owner of the vineyard asks the worker if he was envious of the owner’s generosity to the other workers. UHH duh! I had so much hidden and buried envy in my heart because Miss Goody-two shoes (that was me) was somehow being penalized to receiving the same blessings as the bad children.
When I was around 19 years old, God spoke to me and said something that I will never forget. He said, “It’s really not about you. It’s about Me.”
No, God. Hate to break it to you but it’s my life so it is most definitely about me.
And He softly said again, “It’s really not about you. It’s about Me.”
And I remember dropping to my knees and pleading for forgiveness. Remembering all the times that I made it about me and all the “good” things that I had done. God’s grace and mercy sent Jesus to the cross so many years ago that we might have life more abundantly. God’s grace and mercy allots me a personal relationship with the divine creator of this universe. God’s grace and mercy wakes me up each day with a new opportunity to share His love and His story. God’s grace and mercy is the reason that I even have a story. In the bigger picture of God’s plan, my story is more like a sentence and that’s cool.
So there you have it. I have never rescued a cat from a tree. I have never saved anyone from drowning. I have never saved someone from a burning building. But I have come encounter with God’s grace and mercy and let me tell you, it’s has completely changed my life. This is my story, and the best part is, it’s not even really about me.
So…what’s your story? Leave it in the comments below.
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