It can feel like we’re invisible sometimes. Like our stories don’t matter because no one will hear them anyway. In the midst of the noise of social media, it’s easy to feel like we’re lost in the shuffle, not big enough to make a difference and not small enough to be welcomed as a “newbie.”
Can I tell you something? I’ll wait while you go grab that cup of coffee. You know, the one you get to drink while it’s still hot, without a little one needing you for 10 minutes. Welcome to the magical world of my blog 😉
Listen. Not only does your story matter, we need it to be authentic. I don’t need more community made up of people who only tell me how the story ends. I want to live with, worship beside, and pray for women who tell me their story – the beginning, the ugly middle parts, and the redemptive end. Sure, I want to know how you saw God work through that hard moment, and I’ll tell enough of my own stories about the way God put community together in my life through a series of fascinating events, but that’s not the whole story.
I want you to know when you come here, when you talk to me, that I’m not going to say I’m “fine” until the mess is cleaned up. I want you to know that I struggle, that I’m human, that even though you only know me through typed words on a screen, there is some real life happening over here. It’s hard enough to be real and tell people those stories in real life – and even easier to hide behind the safety of the screen and present something you think the world expects to see.
Your story matters. I need to know that you have hard days. I also need to know that you are really amazing at what you do, and I want to hear your stories about how you’re using your God-given gifts in excellent ways. As tired as I can be of “Pinterest-perfect,” I’m equally tired of this thing in my head that makes me shy away from sharing those awesome moments with you. I want to cheer for you when you rock that conference talk, or when your daughter learns to tie her shoes because YOU taught her that. I want to give honor where it’s due and point the gift back to the Giver – to show off what God can do and how amazing His gifts are.
We need your story. We need you, in this community, just as you are. Amazing gifts, ugly messes, glorious redemption – all of it. Beginning, middle, and end.
