Stories

"My Stories Are Worth Sharing."

I sensed the Lord whispering that message to me as I returned from a 4-day Leadership Training in Colorado. The conference included moms who are interested in writing, speaking and/or blogging for MomHeart Ministry. Sally Clarkson, who has been a mentor mom to me (even before I actually met her) directs this ministry with her husband Clay. Among other things, they seek to encourage, equip and support moms who are committed to restoring and pursuing godly biblical motherhood. I love their message and the fact that whether a mom works in- or outside the home, whether she educates her children at home or sends them somewhere else for school, whether she is a single mom, a mom with babies or a mom with grown kids, whether she even knows God or not, the message of the ministry is still relevant.

Quite honestly, I went to this training without any real sense as to why I was going. I mean, I have experience and gifts in speaking and writing and thought God may want me to use those skills in some way to further the goals of this ministry. When I prayed about it, I sensed I was supposed to go. If nothing else, I thought I would have an opportunity to hone my skills and perhaps see where God may direct my path.

Of the three focuses of the conference (writing, speaking and blogging), I was definitely interested in the first two, but had no interest, passion or direction regarding blogging. Outside of participating on a family blog designed to keep our geographically scattered family connected, I’ve never felt any sort of desire to put my life out there in such a manner. On any given day, the internet is inundated with bloggers who are busy espousing their opinions and beliefs, sharing their daily activities or struggles, boring us with the minutia of their lives, hawking their wares, advancing their own political, social, religious or economic agenda – you name it, I’m sure there’s a blog for it. I’ve never felt compelled to join those conversations. I tend to be more of the belief that unless you have something new to say, there’s no need repeating what’s already out there.

But then, in Colorado, I was forced to challenge that belief. A couple of the speakers -- well-known, published authors -- raised this very issue, suggesting that even if the topic is not new, the filter of one’s own life experience changes the message such that it is then worth communicating. I had to pause and think about that for a minute.

Later, one of the speakers noted that “if someone has a talent, skill or an opportunity to use words, in some measure she is called.” Reasoning from the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25, she affirmed that God gives us talents and wants us to multiply them. That forced me to question myself: how do I do that if I’m limiting the way I will use these particular talents? I spent the rest of the day allowing that idea to ruminate in my head. Later, a comment Clay Clarkson made again brought this issue to the forefront of my mind: “God has put a special spiritual message in each of our hearts that only we can give and we need to determine how to work that message out to be able to deliver it.”

Right then, I started to pray about this. Wouldn’t it be just like God to take the one thing I’m not interested in and call me to pursue that? Of course, I already knew the answer to that question all-too-well!

As it turned out, I didn’t seem to need to pray very long, for as I walked through the airport to catch my flight back to San Diego, I sensed God telling me “Your stories are worth sharing and you need to start a blog.” I was so certain of His voice that I hurried to the boarding area, pulled out my computer, and secured the domain for the blog name He gave me. On the airplane, I started writing some ideas.

And so I'm choosing to walk in obedience and to share my stories -- even if it means talking about really difficult things. My story is not for me alone. And so, with this blog, I begin that journey.