a love story
Sorry to break it to you. It’s not mushy in any sense of the word. Yet, it’s one of the most special notes I’ve ever received. It was sent as a text message on a Friday morning. I’m certain she was still in her pajamas and sat herself down along with her reheated cup of coffee to send this note:
“Y’all have fun tonight with neighbors/friends. I met a new friend a few weeks ago…Mrs. Nancy has got to be pushing 90 and so alert, friendly, and exciting to be around. I’m going to visit her and take her some homemade cookies/candies next week. She and two other ladies wrote the history of Bostick, GA…papa is listed on a page with his family. It’s a huge book. Mrs. Nancy would not take my money and gifted it to me…I’m going to treat her to lunch soon. Shauna, you are my daughter, but such an inspiration! I’m so proud of you!! I have told Pops several times after seeing “It’s a Beautiful Day” I want to be like Jesus and Mr. Rogers. And that’s exactly what you are doing!”
If you’ve met my mom, you know she quickly becomes your mom too! She can’t help but compliment the beauty she sees in you and it takes mere seconds and she’s meeting a deep felt need of yours. That’s my mom! And that’s how she’s gifted - wired - created! She makes life about others because she is secure in her story, her ministry, her calling, her purpose. Do you want to be, too?
Answer these:
What’s your story? This is about you. What have you overcome? What do you love about your life? What have you let shape your beliefs and present reality? Where do you go for answers/guidance?
What is your ministry? This is about your service to others, the way you give of yourself to those around you, including your immediate family. What breaks your heart? What excites you that involves loving/serving others?
What is your calling? This is how you live out your story and ministry. Take the answers from above and that shapes the path you are on and the voice with which you speak.
Who is your audience? Who’s listening to you? Who’s paying attention and following you?
I’ll tell you mine. My story is to love the people of San Francisco with the love of Jesus as a minority of faith. My ministry is to help others learn to love where they live and to live a life so others want Jesus through writing, parenting, neighboring, and prayer walking. My calling is to write and live out my story and ministry. My audience is church planters, city dwellers, people and churches who are living sent.
Getting specific about who you are will help as you pursue job opportunities, conversations, neighbor interactions, and more.
If we believe our story is swell, we’ll celebrate theirs as well.
It’s not this clean cut though.
I have days when it would be
easier to stick to my own kind - those who believe like me, live like me, raise kids like me. To keep my faith, my story to myself, holding out that this world isn’t my home and I’ll live it surrounded by other believers.
easier to send our kids to school where we know all kids eat three meals a day, are told they are loved by their parents, and where discipline and justice are enforced.
easier to separate myself from the world and its problems. To disengage with those I disagree with. To ignore the front page articles fighting for children’s rights to determine their own gender and for shelters to be free-for-all with no accountability.
easier to live somewhere less complicated, less vocal, less expensive, more safe, more friendly, more spacious.
But I have a love story
and people need to know they have a love story. You have a love story, too. Let the cover story of your love story be what grabs their attention. It is true for all of us regardless the details of our story. Love is in the form of a person and that is Jesus Christ.
Let our love notes be simple and truthful.
You are loved
says 1 John 3:1.
You matter to this world
says Jeremiah 29:11-13.
I care for you
says 1 John 4:7.
Today is a gift
says Psalm 118:24.
Go tell your love story.
Love Where You Live Day
Saturday, February 22
follow up with your act of kindness in January
do what’s on your mind, in your heart, and in His Name
with each of our acts, we will collectively let the world know
they are loved.
they matter.
we care.
today is a gift.
