A little inspiration from my bff...

My best friend, Amy, is a shining light in my life. Not only is she insanely encouraging and giving, but her own story inspires each and everyone of us who know and love her. We have known each other for almost 14 years. We've been through a lot together, including finding our way back to the God who loves us. We spend endless amounts of time texting each other lines from "Friends", we sing at the top of our lungs to our favorite folk artists, and we are still basking in the glow of our Twilight-themed road trip to Forks when New Moon came out in theaters. She has one of those laughs that is often times funnier than the joke, and she makes me laugh constantly!! Amy and I met on the first day of my internship, and we have been attached at the hip ever since....even now, living across the country from one another.

Amy loves a good story....loves to be inspired. She loves helping other people find their passion, fueling their strength, and empowering their leadership. In true Amy fashion and timing, she emailed me this on Friday as I was mustering up the courage to start sharing my own story. It's a quote from one of our favorite authors, Shauna Niequist...from her book, Bittersweet:

"There are two myths that we tend to believe about our stories: the first is that they’re about us, and the second that because they’re about us, they don’t matter. But they’re not only about us, and they matter more than ever right now. When we, any of who have been transformed by Christ, tell our own stores, we’re telling the story of who God is….

This is what I want you to do: tell your story. Don’t allow the story of God, the sacred, transforming story of what God does in a human heart to become flat and lifeless. If we choose silence, if we allow the gospel to be told only on Sundays, only in sanctuaries, only by approved and educated professionals, that life-changing story will lose its ability to change lives.

It always goes back to the beginning, no matter how far we’ve wandered off course. When Christ walked among us, he entrusted the gospel to plain old regular people who were absolutely not religious professionals. If you have been transformed by the grace of God, then you have within you all you need to write your manifesto, your poem, your song, your battle cry, your love letter to a beautiful and broken world.

Your story must be told."

-Shauna Niequist

“Bittersweet”

 

 

It's just what I needed to hear...or I guess, read! I have no grandiose story to tell. No bells and whistles. No big fanfare. But I do have a story. And I will share it the best way I know how.

What is your story and how are you telling it? What holds you back from telling your story? Or better yet, what keeps you from living your story? I pray that whatever holds you back begins to loosen it's grip. I pray that you have an Amy in your life who holds your hand as she's telling you to jump. I pray that you begin to understand how much you are loved by God and how much He needs you to help Him extend love and grace to others through your own personal story....however you are called to share it!

 

Blessings!

 

P.S. If you don't know Shauna Niequist, I highly recommend picking up a copy of her books!!