HALO’S Daily Soul Food
The Gift of You
What is the greatest gift you have ever received, and why? Was it your parents, significant other, best friend, child or children, puppy, faith, recovery, etc.? We have all received many gifts throughout our lives, but what is the gift that keeps on giving? Why, of course, it’s love, but even deeper than that, it is the love you give to others by sharing yourself with others. How do you share yourself with others? by sharing your experience, strength, and hope. If you are living a spiritual life, then you have experienced many lessons and blessings. You have survived many trials and low spots. Your dark past and painful secrets become your greatest strength because you have been healed, and your heart transformed. God can and will use your experience, strength, and hope to bless many souls and sometimes even help save lives. Lord, sometimes I don’t believe my past can bless anyone, and my story, not that great, free me from this negative self-talk. Help me use the gift of my life story along with the many blessings you have bestowed upon my life to be a gift that keeps on giving for ages to come.
“Your heartache is someone else’s hope. If you make it through, somebody else is going to make it through. Tell your story.” ~ Kim McManus
The gift of the story is what I like to refer to as “narrative theology.” Nobody in the world can share your story. Sure we can share bits and pieces, but we will never bring your story the attention and justice it deserves. First, you must disclose your entire life story to God, yourself, and another human being and then reconcile with the people from your past before you can ever heal from your dark past. Once you heal, your story should be told forever, blessing people for the ages. One day, you will realize that your story is truly God’s story and that God invited you to be apart of His story. Because of God’s grace and invitation to be apart of His story, your story becomes a blessing to countless others. The gift of your story, which is the gift of you, shared with passion, love, and gratitude, is the best gift you can give anyone. Make it a priority to share your story with others in one way or another; you’ll be glad you did, so will God, and so will they. Father God, help me heal from my painful past so that my story is not one of simply heartache but one of victory, grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness that only You can narrate and deliver.
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