Storyteller [Guest Post]

Storytelling is no joke. Maybe that seems like an obvious thing to write as a blogger, on a blog, for many other bloggers to read (I promise not to overuse the word blog or blogger) but I am learning it is not as obvious as one would think. It certainly wasn't to me. I love recipes and outfits of the day. I love myself a DIY project and hearing and writing about life. You will find all these things on my blog and I love reading about them on so many other blogs as well. Please hear that first. And that won't change either.

 

Recently, I shared a story, a hard story, a story that had every muscle in my body tense and coiled as I hit publish. Even now, I am forcing myself to write it here instead of pushing links at you: I was in a physically and sexually abusive relationship for nearly two years with a boy/man who went to church, prayed with me, fought for purity with me, and loved Jesus. I know so many of those things seem contradictory (that is because they are contradictory) and yet this is my story. (You can read more here: part i, part ii, part iii, part iv because that is not what this guest post is about.) This is about you and your story. (I can't help loving stories, even the hard ones; I'm a writer.)

 

You have a story and I have more. These are hard stories and funny stories and complicated stories. Sometimes they are isolating stories. We feel like we must be the only ones. We are not. As soon as I told my story, women came forward (too many) and I felt broken hearted at their stories and bound up all at once. And now God is moving in my heart and life in crazy ways in that area but also when it comes to stories. I've written novels hidden on my computer. Now I am being pushed (Oh, Lord how you graciously you push sometimes) to write stories, my stories, pushed to write them down for others to someday read. I'm terrified yet determined to be brave.

 

Stories are powerful and if you're reading this, you have a platform and your experiences are valid. It's not just your blog, either. It's your life. Your work. Your neighbors. These are all platforms you have been given and entrusted with and your experiences are part of a much larger tapestry if you allow them to be. If you allow them to be. In my case, the story I've recently shared is difficult but it is one of God's healing and continued restoration and redemption. That is really the most important part of the story. And let's be honest, Jesus values stories a great deal.

 

I dearly love this community. Be brave, ladies. Be free in Christ and be brave. Stop on over the blog and use the code ballerina for 20% off any ad space. Also there is a raffle going on from this month's sponsors for some lovely Kate Spade earrings. Thanks for this this time, Elise. You are incredibly supportive and a joy.

 Love,

  

 Bloglovin' | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest