The pieces of yourself that you offer us, that you melt down into words and shape into stained glass truth for us to hold up to the light of our computer screens fill us with wonder. There is nothing mundane in the magenta shades of your life.
In the cathedral of womanhood, marriage, and motherhood when I am kneeled over in despair at my small life, at my many failings, at my worry I look up and see your truth shining golden, pink, blue and orange streaming in through the windows above me. The colors of your life warm me. They illuminate this space. They remind me that we do not journey alone.
Did you know? Did you know that in the quiet dark we applaud your life and the Artist that lights it in all its broken beauty? Do not doubt that what you share transcends how long it takes you to actually type it out.
Your story takes on a life of its own as soon as I read it.
Your story speaks into my story.
Your story helps me decipher my own.
Keeping spilling your light in this place, my sister. Keep piecing together the broken parts of your journey for Him to light and me to marvel at. You are the most beautiful in all your broken glory.
Photo: A window inside Vitus Cathedral in Prague, by Tyler Olsen.
A place I love but that my camera skills could never do justice.
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I know you didn’t write this JUST for me, but I’m going to pretend you did because it’s exactly what I needed to hear, right now.
Girl -please accept this as my own version of chicken soup and babysitting for one sick mama
It was *just* for you!
Yes yes yes!! What a precious reminder. I tell my coaching clients this all the time when they get discouraged and don’t think their story matters. I always think of the idea that if we don’t live our lives, who else will??
God has such a special, unique story in each of us. Together we shout out His glory. One voice missing is a tragedy.
Thanks for the encouragement!
Yes, every voice matters. No voice is more important than any other. He hears every single one of us. Whether shouting or whispering – nothing is lost on Him.
A beautiful, much-needed reminder today. Thank you.
“Your story helps me decipher my own.”
I love this! I was just telling someone on Twitter that it’s when we share how God is working in OUR mess that others can find hope for THEIR messes!
Yes, yes, YES! Picture me jumping up and down and clapping my hands in agreement!
Thank you, Lisa-Jo. This afternoon has been a struggle full of many tears that I am trying to keep hidden from my kids and husband. We just passed the 1yr anniversary of hubby’s dad being gone & Christmas is still hard. He was such a giver and a loving person. I’m trying to be strong and am so very week. Trying to remember everything works together for the good of those that love Him.
Oh Jessica. Yes. He especially uses our broken bits and pieces I think. He builds them into something new when we never could have imagined anything good could come of them. Wishing you His glue to hold you together in this hard season, sweet friend.
It’s why we are to “weep with those that weep and rejoice with those that rejoice” so we can weave into each other’s lives and be like those that held up Moses arms. We hold up each other.
Aaaaaamen, sister. This is, indeed, very beautiful. We are our most beautiful before the King, when broken.
Thank you, Lisa-Jo! This was EXACTLY what I needed to hear. I’m not sure why I feel exactly this way when reading others’ blogs, but think that no one could possibly get that from mine… I needed the reminder that we are all important in the grand plan.
Thank you!
Shell, I promise you that someone feels that exact same way about YOUR blog! I promise.
I agree with Elizabeth Esther, this post feels like it was written just for me. ON a day, when kids decide to lie, steal, refuse to potty, when I am most frustrated, when I wish I could get a hug, when my story feels like the same mundaneness scribbled over and over–like writing sentences when I was naughty in class.
I love these beautiful virtual hugs here on your blog!
Oh good! Because I love to give them!
Oh, Lisa-Jo, you are an answer to prayer! This week I’ve been thinking about (praying about) words, my writing, and if it’s really worth it all. I took this month off of writing as a way to focus more on the Christ part of Christmas. To make this season one that points to Him. To make lasting memories instead of bloggable moments.
As I haven’t written, I’ve wondered. Does what I have to say really matter? Should I just give up the blog? Will anyone notice, apart from my family?
The only reason I haven’t already decided to give up is a phrase that’s been running through my mind. “More of Him, and less of me.” I want to show more of Him and less of me in my writing. But how can I do that when I’m writing about MY life? I thought that was impossible, until today. Until I read Holley and Ann’s post this morning about words. Then you confirmed what God has been whispering to me and I’ve been too preoccupied to hear: I CAN write about myself and point to Him at the same time. I have a handful of subscribers – they want to read my words. If my words can impact just one person for Him, then yes, my words DO matter.
Thank you for sharing your words and being such an encourager!
Yes, Rachel. Every single story matters. Every one is unique and uniquely important. If you feel called to write it, then write it. If you feel called to share it in other ways, then do so. But never stop sharing your story. The world would be the lesser for it.
Thanks ‘gypsy mama’. YOU WHO KNOW that bearing it some days is the last thing mamas feel like doing…bearing it to the world amidst all of the doubts that can come in this isolating season warring against a belief that it matters…any of it…who wants to hear what I have to say?
Well, wonderful you does…and all those we’ll meet in Heaven and be able to recall the exact post and story that touched us deeply…wonderful surprises…
thanks for speaking into it all and giving priceless encouragement! hugs, Abby:)
You matter, Abby. What you do matters. Your story matters.
Beautiful…and thank YOU!
Beautiful encouraging post! Many, many women need to read this and believe it!
I really need this today. thanks! I missed my regular blogging on monday and was going to just skip it (multitude monday) but I think, now… I will post it anyway… better late than never right?
Oh yes! I mean, look at me, I just posted this after kids and dinner and bath time and bed time. Sometimes a mama’s gotta fit into the schedule anywhere she finds an opening. It’s never too late!
now I feel all warm and fuzzy
Good. Mission accomplished!
A friend sent me these words today, and they were just what I needed. Especially when (I) want to run away and hide, keeping all of what’s inside of me away from the critique of others due to hurt from another. Thank you so much for your encouragement to all of us!
Very beautiful. And much needed for me. Thank you!
Sometimes even Christian culture will tell you that your story doesn’t matter especially when the outcome is not what you begged God for. Having an especially hard time telling my story this year. The day I prayed would never come will take place just 4 days before Christmas. Then, I will be called divorced. So, thank you from those of us who have failed. Our stories still matter even where it us not a happy ending.
What a beautiful post. I’m always amazed at how God uses others in my life to encourage me to keep going. I’m reminded of Hebrews 11 – the faith chapter and how we are encouraged by others journey’s of faith. Blogging, in addition to real life friends, can be used of God in much the same way to encourage us on our journey of faith!
Thanks for posting.
~Heather
boy, did i ever need these words today.
did i ever.
thank you.
Has anyone told you today how your words taste just like Him?
So good.
Your compliments are divine. They make my heart beam, and they aren’t even for me.
I wrote my blog address wrong. Not that I’m worried about if anyone clicks or not… It’ll just bug me if it’s not corrected
yes yes yes–such power in story, and how amazing that we get to live out an even greater Story of God at work. keep writing. your Truth encourages us, too.
Oh Lisa-Jo, Ann is right – your words taste just like Him today. They are just what this dazed girl with her feet not quite on the ground in Massachusetts needed to hear. I am missing you, wearing the necklace you gave me (that, I sense, He gave to you to give to me).
Love,
Hilary
C.S. Lewis said, “We read to know that we are not alone.”
When I first heard this years ago I thought only in reference to books.
I was reminded of it just the other day when I checked my Google reader and saw all of the blog posts there for me to read.
And I thought…
“I read these to know that I am not alone.”
I get it now.
I share in their stories. And maybe some of them share in mine.
It is encouragement. It is accountability. It is life lived out in a beautiful community.
Thank you for your post, dear one!
I’m sipping tea now but I’m gulping down this beautiful post. You…YOU! He delights in you and we delight in His words spoken through you. What encouragement you offer us gals! Yep, I often feel like my life is small and un-noteworthy in all its mundane. Why write about it, anyway? Because He gave me the desire, and if He planted the desire, then I trust He’ll use the mundane for something marvelous (even when I don’t see it!)
Love you to pieces!
Beautiful and encouraging. I had wondered why this very morning-why I should continue. Being vulnerable to people who I don’t even know and many who don’t even “get me!”
The more we open ourselves up, the more people have an opportunity to trample us, -that is true and it is hard. But how can we minister without doing that? Isn’t genuine Christianity all about reaching out and taking risks? Loving those who only love us makes us no better than white-washed tombs. I would rather be filled with Him and spill over then die an empty shell.
I read this yesterday … a day I was seriously considering the possibility of adandoning blogging.
I couldn’t comment because I was all sorts of emotional {hey, I’m a writer, woman and an artist — it’s like swimming around in a constant cocktail of feelings!}, and though I still feel some of the meloncholy from those thoughts yesterday, I do know that you are right, Lisa- Jo. There’s nothing more the enemy would love than to silence my words … because my words are often reflections of how great God is.
Thank you for your post.
Last January in the stillness of the morning and quiet room the Lord said ‘I want you to write and tell your story. Others need to hear it.”
um… did I listen right? oh my…
a year later it has been a journey of writing and sharing and drawing from the deepest places his spirit could take me.
The story continues to unfold. It has been good.
This is beautifully written, and a good reminder. Thanks for this.
This is beautiful. It really gave me peace today. Peace that I am not alone in the journey because of Christ. And, peace that I am not alone in my struggles as a woman, mother, daughter, sister, friend . . .
Thank you. Godspeed,
Elizabeth
This is lovely, and it is also true. I thank Him today for you and your light-spilling story.
Such encouragement. Thank you!
You have such a way with words, friend. You string words together like God paints a sunset – masterfully and beautifully. I feel like you wrote this just for me. For such a time as this.
xo,
Hannah
Oh Sister, your words spoke to the very core of my being. In a rare moment of peace and quiet, I stole away to skim my Reader and clicked this post. I could barely read for doubling over in a fit of tears. Thank you. I don’t know that you have ever happened by my blog and that’s okay. But, thank you! You spoke right in to the very place that I am–”kneeled over in despair at my small life, at my many failings, at my worry”–and I cannot thank you enough.
How awesome is our Lord! How awesome His timing! YOUR words spoke encouragement for the journey. Encouragement to keep on sharing my story.
A million thanks!
Last night I went to sleep and woke up this morning with the same thought: “Surely I’m not the only one who’s dealt with this.” Because I’ve felt *really* alone. Until I read this…and starting reading all these blogs. It was an immediate answer to my quiet, crying prayers last night. I can’t. thank. you. enough.
i love that each one of our journeys informs each others… the beauty of community… thank you for reminding me of the power of story today Lisa-Jo
it warms my soul – and the image of the stained glass window – so awesome!
Wow! You’ve both blessed and amazed me with this post. Thanks for writing it.