Stories Matter

 

Most of the time in our culture, people who are in their nineties don’t get much recognition or respect. And most people at that age don’t contribute a lot to society anymore and aren’t considered to be very productive. But you haven’t met Barbara.

Every month or two at our church, there is a casual get-together for women where one person is asked ahead of time to share their story. I have heard many of these stories and also had the opportunity to share my own story a few months ago. But last night we had the rare privilege of listening to 91-year-old Barbara’s story.

Barbara is one of my friends, so I already had heard most of what she had to say. She has a lot of energy and joy, and she never fails to give God the glory for everything that has happened in her long life. But I was struck last night with how inspiring it is for the rest of us to hear about God’s faithfulness in Barbara’s life and how it encourages each of us to keep trusting God individually. It reminded me that our stories matter and that we need each other. Because that’s the way God designed us – to need him and to need each other.

No two people will share all of the same experiences, and we each have to walk the life of faith as individuals. But God knew that we couldn’t do it completely on our own, so he designed us to be In community with others to find the full expression of what faith is all about. Even one of the most solemn books of the Bible recognizes that “two are better than one” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). We all need encouragement and to be lifted up by others at times.

So don’t be afraid to share your own story with the people in your community, whoever they are. We never know who might need to be encouraged in any given moment and how our words might be used to inspire someone else. One thing I’m sure of: God is always faithful and will use us when we are willing to be used by him. Even as we age, and even if we live to be over ninety years old!