The Power of a Story
Walking through the antique store, I quickly became immersed in all the objects that represented life in bygone eras. Floral china patterns, etched crystal stemware, a tulip imprinted on pyrex bowls, embroidered linens, and sparkling jewelry proudly cluttered every shelf. I recognized the tulip bowl from my childhood and suddenly, I was eating buttery popcorn and watching “The Wonderful World of Disney” on a Sunday night. But what really captured my attention was an old dining room table sitting in a space of its own.
Known as a harvest/bench table, it was a table that transformed into a bench when the table top was turned on its side. Interestingly, the bench was more worn than the table top. So many divergent thoughts about this table’s history sprinted through my mind. Perhaps it was once a welcoming piece in a foyer offering a space on which to drop hats, coats, shoes and bags. I imagined a house full of active kids depositing all of their outerwear, happy to be home.
Just as my curiosity was getting the best of me, my eyes were drawn to a piece of paper scotch-taped to the top. The words on the paper were just what I was hoping for. They told the story of this beautiful table, enhancing both its value and richness.
Lovingly hand crafted in New England in the early 1900’s, it was made by a cabinet maker for his daughter’s housewarming gift. It remained in the family, retaining its original finish, until the cabinetmaker’s grand-daughter, now in her 90’s, needed to move into a retirement home. So here it sat, silently waiting to be welcomed into another family’s home. Turned out, after learning this table’s history, its next home would be mine. Oh, the power of a story.
Similar to this table, each one of us has a story. Where have we come from and where are we going? How has our relationship with God shaped us into who we are today? Where might we be stubbornly resistant to His work within us and how might we change if we were to approach God with an open heart and open hands? Pondering our past helps us to recognize where God has been at work in our lives.
And what about other people’s stories? Without knowing where they’ve come from and how they got here, it’s easy to make quick judgements, especially if they are different from ourselves. When we don’t know someone’s story, we tend to dismiss them. What hardships have they faced? What dreams have been shattered? What might they have experienced in their childhood that left them wounded?
As a former Guardian ad Litem, I was required to attend a training on how childhood trauma effects our behavior as adults. We all took a survey that listed ten Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s). We were asked to mark off the ones we experienced as children. The results were quickly tabulated and they were staggering. Out of the class of sixteen people, a large percentage experienced four or more ACE’s, and at least ninety percent of the class experienced one of them.
I pray this year finds us listening prayerfully to other people’s stories and holding their stories in the presence of God. No one is beyond hope or redemption. Understanding who they are and why they think and act as they do enables us to view others with more compassion and empathy. Once we know their story, we can begin to love them as God loves them. And this my friend, can become our greatest accomplishment in 2026.
What About You?
As you begin this new year, ask yourself, “Where have I come from?” and “Where am I going?”
How can I cooperate with the Holy Spirit this year as He continues to shape me into the image of Jesus?
Identify someone in your life who you do not know well. How can you be proactive in listening to their story?
More often than not, spiritual markers are baby steps taken in faith. Ask God to give you the faith and courage to take your next step towards spiritual growth - especially if you have no idea where you’ll end up. You’ll be amazed at what God can do though open hands and an open heart.
