It’s amazing what happens when we share our stories…
16 women gathered this past weekend to share life for two-and-a-half days. There was happiness. Tears were shed. There was a vulnerability expressed by women here that I had yet to see until that point. There was beauty in the voicing, in the release, in the lifting of burdens.
Four ladies from the States came to lead a conference with the women joining our women’s empowerment program. They call themselves Beauty for Ashes, which just so happens to be found in Isaiah 61, the chapter for which 61project is named. Their heart is for women to know their identity in Christ, to let go of any unforgiveness or hurt from their past, to receive healing, and to give a voice to the voiceless.
God’s design and timing in having these ladies come was perfect, uniting this group just before we begin our women’s program. And this uniting came because of vulnerability. Women began sharing their lives with one another, their true selves, their stories. They spoke in boldness, which then generated trust amongst the group. As one shared, another received the faith and courage she needed to speak out. When they spoke, they voiced the things long hidden, the dark things, the unlovely things, the things they had never shared with anyone else- and when they brought these things to light, they received freedom.
Sharing their stories did not erase the pain of the past. These women should never have had to endure some of the things they have gone through. But these women are fighters. They are strong. They have persevered. This weekend did not undo what they have gone through. But sharing their stories brought newfound freedom and reminders of redemption and hope and healing.
I thank God for what He did this past weekend. Beyond uniting and knitting these women together, He showed them individually His vast yet personal love. He gave them a voice. He gave them release from things that had held them captive. Away from the cares of home and work, He gave them a weekend to focus on Him and to hear from Him. He reminded them of how He sees them.
We all left the retreat changed. And starting out on our journey together, we left trusting each other. We left a community.
And that is what happens when we share our stories.
I’ll be posting blogs in the next few days about the who, what, where, when, and hows of the women’s empowerment program and highlighting some of the ladies’ stories who are involved. Stay tuned!
