Story

When our children were small, I had a hundred things to relate to my husband every evening when he walked in the door from work. None of them were mind blowing or ground breaking. Simple things like whose tooth was loose or who took a first step or used the potty by themselves or ate their vegetables without a fuss- these were often the topics of dinner conversation. Having talked to little people all day, I craved adult conversation. Not much has changed. Our children are all grown. Now I just spend the day talking to my Great Danes. Similarly when my husband returns home from a round of golf or a fishing tournament, he shares a play by play recap with me, much like a sports commentator, eager for me to grasp the highlights and celebrate or fume with him as he does with me over my day.

We were made for this connection, created for relationship. We long for the kind of significance found in deep connection. We long to be heard, accepted, understood, and appreciated by someone. This is part of what it means to be created in the image of God. Our Creator God walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day in Eden. He called His creation to fellowship with Him through the priests and prophets, and He mended the rift caused by sin Himself to open the way to intimacy with us. He hears our thoughts and He numbers not just our days, but the hairs on our heads! We are intimately known.

When my now married children call or visit, when I attend church or a gathering of family and friends, and even when I post on social media, stories are the way I reconnect with my people. If we were to meet for coffee, I’d share what’s happening with me and in return, you’d share what’s going on with you. This way, even when we’re apart, we remain part of each other’s lives. This is what God longs for from His children as well. Though He knows my thoughts, He still longs for time with me. He listens when I speak to him in prayer, and He speaks to me, encourages me, and overwhelms me with love and light through His Word, the Bible.

Being drawn together is not a uniquely human characteristic. We’re fascinated by the instinctual habits of dolphins and other species in the animal kingdom. We celebrate the family dynamic grafted into the DNA of animals when we tear up over wildlife docuseries on National Geographic. We recognize this in nature, but only humans have the ability to appreciate and share our unique stories. We do not live in isolation. My story is interconnected with others and these points of connection have a purpose beyond self-fulfillment. We are all a part of the larger story God is authoring which points to Him.

Jesus said it this way: “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

John 14:1-6 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.14.1-6.NLT

I can only imagine the stories that will be shared around the table at that homecoming. There won’t be any trivialities or small talk! Every voice, every connection, every interaction recounted will have eternal significance! Mercy Me does a nice job of phrasing how I picture the scene in their song “The Hurt & The Healer.”

“It’s the moment when humanity is overcome by majesty

When grace is ushered in for good and all our scars are understood

When mercy takes its rightful place and all these questions fade away…”

I long for that great “Aha!” moment! Things in our lives that seem random now will assume importance in the light of eternity! Like the dawning of the day when light removes all darkness, connections we’ve made that faded, relationships that lasted a lifetime, and even casual conversations shared across a supermarket aisle will be revealed to have impacted someone’s eternal destiny. God has planted eternity in the human heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11) and we were intentionally created for relationship- with Him and with each other.

“And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.”

Mark 16:15 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/mrk.16.15.NLT

“Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness.”

Psalms 145:6-7 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.145.6-7.NLT

“As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 9:13 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.9.13.NLT

God’s first children, created in His image, were given a command to multiply and fill the earth. Noah and his family were given the same directive. In the same way, as image bearers of God, the purpose of our stories is to tell of “God’s wonderful goodness.” We were made to point to Him until the whole world has heard.

“And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.”

Matthew 24:14 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.24.14.NLT

This is me telling my story of God’s wonderful goodness.

I’d love to hear yours while there’s still time!