Solo por Hoy. Just for Today.
In context, this is the name of the men’s alcoholic addiction’s group that meets at our ministry site. This is the name of the group of men who, through a squad-mate, taught me that my story matters.
Having attended a liberal arts/Christian university, it was never uncommon to hear people comparing stories. Often this was done unknowingly by using phrases such as, “Their story is so cool,” or ” they were able to turn their life around even after going through all of that.” Then enters the comparison game. What is it that qualifies a story as cool? What qualifies it as weak?
Coming from someone who never believed her story was cool, here were my thoughts.
Disclaimer: THESE ARE FALSE
Katy Wade’s 5 things that, when together, make a story worth telling/hearing:
1. Abuse: I needed to have gone through at least one form of physical, emotional, mental, verbal, or substance abuse at some point in my life.
2. Relationships: I needed to have had at least one failed relationship, from which I was able to rise from the ashes a new person.
3. Rock Bottom: God should have already rocked my world and I should be on the mend.
4. A following: I needed a crowd that desperately hung on every word I said.
5. A reaction: I needed adoration and praise and glory after having told the one part of my story that I thought worthy enough to elicit a reaction.
After sitting in on a session of Solo por Hoy, I began to tell part of my story to my teammate that she had yet to hear. As I was talking, she asked me if I tended to downplay things when discussing my past. Honestly and somewhat hesitantly, I said yes. Then commenced the word vomit. After my major spillage of life events was over, I looked at her and true to history said, “but none of that is really a big deal now.”
With wide eyes, she politely disagreed. She stated that to her, it all had very much sounded like a big deal.
With the help of my squad-mate and through sharing the entirety of my story, here are 4 things I learned.
1. God had not written my story for me to edit it to my liking.
2. I had been fighting Him for the spotlight.
3. My story wasn’t written just for my benefit. It was written as a platform for me to step out and further His Kingdom.
4. Little things aren’t really little things at all. They are major events that have shaped us into who we are. Don’t downplay them.
For so long, the Enemy has told me that the only story worth sharing was the one that would bring me glory. I’m here to say that the story worth telling, is the one that God has written specifically for you.
“But it isn’t big enough.” Or, “it’s too big, no one wants to hear all of that.” When did we dub ourselves as God’s editors? He needs no edits. He has given us everything he has because at some point, it will be worth telling. At some point, it will be worth hearing.
Your story is a tool. It is a tool given specifically to you and only you. Rebuke the idea that it isn’t worthy.
I hope one day to tell you all my entire story, but until then, I encourage you to look into your own. Count it as the amazing gift that it is. Tell it.
“Sometimes the story we’re telling the world isn’t half as endearing as the one that lives inside us.” – Donald Miller, Scary Close
