The Only Story You'll Regret is the One Left Untold

I have little time to scroll through my FB timeline, but when I do, I often get a bright idea for my next blog. I saw a post a few days ago and it inspired me to keep telling stories of my past. Even though my listeners and readers may yawn at yet another one of my Mom or Nana stories, I know they might remember that story and pass it on to their kiddos one day. There are many things I would do over in a better way, if I could, but I can't so I won't live in regret. No “what if’s”, “if onlys” – because that’s no way of living. What I do on-purpose to plant seeds and cultivate them is what matters today. See if this friend's FB post gives you some bright ideas too!

“I’ve encountered the worst, most horrible, awful aspect of cleaning out my dad’s house, which belonged to my grandparents before him: we have lost all the stories. I was my dad’s only child, and he was my grandparents’ only child. My dad’s death was unexpected, so I never got the full data dump of family stories from him, especially as it relates to our heirlooms.
I encounter one object after another that is very old, that I know has deep meaning to my family, but I don’t know details. Which clock is the one that was a wedding gift to my great-great grandparents? Whom did this 1892 Bible belong to? What were the items brought to Texas by covered wagon by my ancestors in the 1850s? My dad knew. Now, he’s gone. There is no one left to ask. I will never know. The stories died with him.

Never has the power of "stories" been more apparent to me than today. It’s reminded me of why I defend people sharing their lives on social media, even if it means we’re walking around taking selfies all the time. When someone is photographing or videoing their lives, it’s not usually because they’re vain or addicted to their phone. It’s because they want to share. They have a story to tell and they want someone to hear it.

As someone who is reeling from the loss of stories, I want to encourage you to be bolder in sharing your own. Let us laugh with you when you can’t find your car in the parking lot. Tell us why you ate that one sandwich for lunch. Vent about how you’re really feeling today. As I sit in my family’s house, surrounded by objects full of secrets I’ll never know, I can promise you the only story you’ll regret is the one that doesn’t get told.”

So, tell those stories, dear friends! Let those youngsters know about walking to school in knee-deep snow (that’s for my Canadian family) – my mother-in-law tells those stories. Tell us how you came to know Jesus.Tell us how He made a difference in your life. Tell us about how you nearly gave up -- but God. Tell us about that vase and where it came from. I love that my mother-in-law labels every item that is given to her by a putting piece of masking tape under that item with a name and date.

I talk a lot about my precious husband -- on purpose. My two youngest grands wouldn't typically remember too much about him, but they do because we keep Papa in the present in our conversations and with photos.

So – with this blog today, I’m reaching out to touch you with an S.O.S.! Don’t take chances that you’ll have your loved ones with you forever or that YOU will be on this side of heaven forever! Ask them about their lives – I mean REALLY delve into WHO they were and what their memories were all about. And, you, start telling YOUR story. I promise you – you will be so glad you did – if not today – someday, when you wish you had!

Cleaning Up -- Cleaning Out -- Cleaning In

It's TOTAL Clean-Up, Clean-Out, Clean-In Time!

Last week I posted about "cleaning up" -- closets, cabinets, clothes, etc. And, I'm quite pleased to say "I conquered!" Yesterday, however, I took it another step. I realized how much time I was spending going through my emails each day. Valuable time being consumed by advertisements, alerts, and even, in my effort to consume as much "Good News" as possible each day, I had devotions and motivations "overload" coming in daily.

It wasn't just the emails that consumed precious time, but often the advertisements would entice me to go to that store for their sale or go shopping on their website. So, more precious time was given to "wants" not "needs" in my life. So, I purged and cleaned out. I "unsubscribed" well over 40 or 50 stores, businesses, news and not needed daily emails. There was one store that I really liked and was even tempted to go by there today, when once again that still small voice said...."PURGE". I did.

There were also some unproductive activities that were taking my valuable time -- time away for those meaningful activities that I needed to pursue. No longer do I have computer games showing up in my news feed, because once upon a time, I'd have to check them out, and if I found one that was challenging and fun, I'd play, and before long, I realized I was hooked.

Long ago there were some TV shows that I recorded that weren't so optimistic and peace-building and I removed them -- those shows that contained immorality, violence, crude language, etc. I'm so glad I did. I even removed those political talk shows that just went on and on in negativity and slamming someone for their convictions. Proverbs 23:7 says "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." I sure don't want to be thinking those thoughts.

Yes, I know I'm starting to sound like "Miss Goody 2 Shoes" and that's not my intent. My intent is to be a fully devoted follower of Christ and in order to do and be that, it means my choices must align with His desires and best wishes for me. "What Would Jesus Do?" certainly provides the benchmark for me. I suspect that maybe you're also feeling some nudges to clean "house" -- the spirit "house" within us. Clean in.

Proverbs 4:20-23 "My son, give attention to My words; Incline your ear to My sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. KEEP YOUR HEART with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life."