When we bought our first house, we needed furniture.We were on a tight
budget and interested in antiques, so we often went to estate sales. One sale in
particular was in an upscale neighborhood. There wasn’t much that would fit our
décor, but my husband spotted an old chest in the corner. It would be perfect
near our fireplace. The price was right; we bought it, returned home, and
carried our bargain into our family room.
As I dusted and began to polish the surface of the old wooden trunk, I saw
black marks. With a little more effort, a printed name emerged. Who was
this person? I called the local
historical society. As information unfolded, I became intrigued with the owner’s biography. It would be quite a prize to local
antique collectors. We merely wanted an
old trunk to store wood for our fireplace, but we began to appreciate it on a
different level. Somehow, I just couldn't use it for wood storage. It became a coffee table and I stored
magazines in it. Once I knew the story behind the trunk, it had a different
value.
That’s the way it is with our life stories. We may think they were for
just us, or even insignificant, but they have value often unknown that may not
surface for years.
Last week we looked at frames for our pictures. What did you
find as you turned pages in a photo album?
Did you see an
answer to prayer in a photo of a bride and groom? Would that story encourage a
young single person waiting for a mate?
Did you see
perseverance behind a smiling face of one receiving an award? Would that story
encourage someone who practices hours to reach a goal?
Does a photo of a
family gathering include stories of traditions?
Does the photo of
a young woman showing her college acceptance letter tell the story of prayer
behind a decision?
Like my old trunk, photos have stories. Our life stories
shape us. Our stories influence others and have value.
Let each
generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power.
Psalm 145: NLT
Psalm 145: NLT
Will your stories touch someone? Yes, only if you tell them.
Can you start today with a single photo and tell the story behind the photo?
