the story

there was a brief time in my younger life that i aspired to be a harmonica player. i remember asking for a harmonica one year for christmas, and when i got it, i practiced "you are my sunshine" over and over for at least a couple of days. and then that was that. it sat on my shelf for a while before it made its way elsewhere (wherever harmonicas go...?).

in church today, two men played a beautiful, BEAUTIFUL duet with a harmonica and a guitar. it was so simple, so pretty. they played "i love to tell the story, 'twill be my theme in glory, to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love." it's one of those hymns...an oldie but a goodie. as i sang along softly, i prayed that i would always love to tell the story, that i would tell it without hesitation, without fear.

at lunch, we got to visit with our pastor and his wife. we don't know them very well, so we spent some time sharing about our lives. i got to tell our story, the story of God's grace and providence in our lives, the story of our miracle. i always worry that i over-share, and i probably do, but it's hard to stop once i get started. i love our story. i love how He brought us through, how He healed my body and our hearts. they shared some of their own story, their own miracles. i never get tired of hearing how God works in people's lives, especially when it's in such incredible ways.

of course, our story is nothing without Jesus. and while i'm quick to tell of His hand in our lives, i'm not always as quick to simply tell of Him. of His miraculous birth, His sacrificial death, His incredible resurrection. of His saving, all-consuming love and grace. of His forgiveness, His commands for obedience, of His desire for our whole hearts.

the old, old story of Jesus and His love...it's why i have a story.