What's Your Story?

Whenever I see my gregarious father-in-law, he greets me with, “What’s your story?” or the classic, “What’s your excuse?” He is of course implying that somewhere, somehow, me being me, I am causing trouble (probably starting with marrying his son 25 years ago). I think he would fall over if I replied, “What’s my story? Let me tell you the history of me!” More likely, given that we have a jib-jab teasing relationship, the response would be, “Please, I know enough.”

 

But, actually he doesn’t. And neither do I about him, or my own mother, or even my husband.

Everyone has a story. None of us can know the whole story of others, because we are not they.  Each one of us has a unique “history of self,” even those raised in the same household. Birth order, age difference, gender, personality--if you have a sibling, or are the parent to more than one child, then you know how these categories and their impact can differ dramatically from sibling to sibling.

It is so easy to make assumptions about another person, based on even a few exchanges of communication. But we really don’t know his story until we are told, and until we bother to truly listen.

The more experience I have in life (read: getting older!), the more I realize how my account of childhood in the Larson home may lack a certain historicity--authentic history--because it is my perception. I don’t have the whole truth, because I was not--nor can be--in everyone else’s heads to get their understanding or perspective.

So what’s the point of this post? To encourage us, myself included, that to understand one another, to know one another’s stories, we have to communicate and not make assumptions. Sometimes the other person won’t be ready to share; respect that. But, start somewhere. Just ask, “So, what’s your story?

Remember to Steep for 3 Minutes

Welcome to a blog two years in the making! Most writers would have tapped out that first entry ‘snapdoodle’ after snapping up a domain name, but not me: too busy finishing up grad school, supporting my daughter through senior year of high school, a major move out of state, and supporting my other daughter as she plunged into a brand new high school. Fun times.
 
So, let’s not delay any longer: why Earl Grey Girl? Because Earl Grey is full of Bergamot, which = heaven in a teacup, and conversations over tea are usually much more productive than those over hard liquor. But, I am not opposed to conversations over a nice glass of Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc.  I am all about conversations steeped in love and laughter, and in building relationship. Not perfectly, because who can do that, except God? I mess up, especially with people I love, but I would definitely give my little finger for them. Not the index finger, because I need that one to type.

Here are my passions: people; encouraging people, especially women, to pursue lives steeped in excellence and joy in their goals and relationships with others and with God; books; culture; writing; family; and did I mention people? I am a writer, a speaker, a counselor (M.A., Counseling, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, 2010) and a worship leader. My desire is to encourage readers in their daily lives and to help them find the Living Hope that is Jesus Christ.
 
And, by the way, tea is not just for women. Ask my husband.