Stories that Change Lives

On Sunday in church a friend of ours shared his story of escaping from Laos as a young boy and eventually becoming a sponsored Compassion child. The sacrifice that his sponsors made for him radically changed his life. His is a powerful story that compels people to sponsor a child with the hope that their sacrifice will also make a huge difference for someone.

The power of a good story told at the right time to the right person could have untold impact. For some of us we can recall a particular sermon, a certain book, or a special conversation that provided the open door for radical change in our lives. I’ve often wondered how many of those stories go untold because of our insecurities, our busyness or a lack of sensitivity to a prompt from God.

My friend that told his story on Sunday will never know the impact that telling his story had for other children in need. He told me that he isn’t a good speaker and struggled to get up on stage and share. But, I believe, the impact that could potentially happen from his sharing compelled him to put his pride aside and tell his story regardless of how others responded to his speaking abilities.

We all have opportunities that come our way to share our stories through our writing (including text, social media, etc.) and through conversations. I am reminded to seek God with every interaction I have with others and not be distracted by the activities around me. I’m also reminded to ask those questions that compel others to share their stories with me, and allow God to use the stories of others to change me.