“This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here. And we know that his account of these things is accurate.”
John 21:24
It’s been a long haul.
Appointments, visits with strangers while waiting for said appointments, technicians, kindness from total strangers, oddities while maneuvering in awkward situations, an immediate affinity with so many who have had experiences similar to mine.
It hasn’t all been bad.
Painful, yes. Frustrating, ditto. But there is so much I’m learning. Because here, in the place my footsteps falter, Jesus has access to my spirit. And teach me, He will – as long as I remain open to His leading. Because here, where things are messy and unclear and uncomfortable, is where He does His best work.
Transforming me, from the inside out.
Giving me practice in patience. Humility. Reverence. Grace under pressure. Not easy. But oh, so crucial if I am to be transformed into who His vision of me really is!
Plus, there are side benefits.
The thing is, I have an ‘in’ now. I have a story. I have a ‘when I broke my foot’ segue-way, because of my personal experiences with limited mobility.
I have a testimony.
Hence, Tales from the Crip. (One of my new monikers, short for ‘crippled’. Just one of the many new terms of endearment Hubby has coined in the last few months.)
See, there’s no disputing a story when it literally happened to you. No one can argue it down. Dismiss it as hearsay. It belongs to you, and you alone.
And it has power!
John recorded his thoughts as an eye witness to the doings of a man called Jesus. He saw the miracles firsthand. He heard the parables. He witnessed the key interchanges with key people, overheard conversations, had a front row seat to the crucifixion.
He grieved the death of his close friend.
And he was overjoyed when he met his friend from beyond the grave!
He was writing in a time when many of the key participants in the whole thing were still alive. He wouldn’t have dared to make accusations or assertions that would have made him a laughing stock to his peers.
Here he is swearing as a witness in the courts that his story is true.
His testimony carries weight!
And friend, so does yours.
Yours!
What happens to you matters. Your experiences count. Your witness statements testifying to the goodness of God in the middle of trying circumstances are custom designed to reach only who your story can reach.
So own your story, your Tale from the Crip.
You never know just who it will impact.
Own and share your story with me?
Father, thank You. Thank You that You never make mistakes. You use the trials and frustrations of our own personal stories to weave them into Your story of love, redemption, and rescue! Change us as we learn to see You in the middle of the mess of our personal life experiences. Amen.
Growing in Grace 