Monday, June 28, 2010

Life is Like a Book ~ ~ so don't tear out any pages

Have you ever noticed that life is a lot like a book? If you think about it they are similar in quite a few ways. Understanding how they are alike may be able to help us enjoy life a little more.

Let's see.....
...both have a beginning and an end (duh- easy one there).
...a book is divided into chapters as the story unfolds. Life is divided into stages, seasons and phases.
...both life and books have plots and subplots.
...they both have a cast of characters (some we love and some we'd love to forget).
...a storyline is composed of a combination of events & emotions - good & bad, joy & sadness, hope & regret.

I'm thinking that living life is a lot like reading a book.

Some other ways life and books are similar are: we may turn the pages of a book and go on to the next chapter, but it doesn't mean we have forgotten what has gone on in the previous chapters. In fact, we need all those details to help us see where the storyline is going. All of the events and characters are woven together to complete the story. The same applies in life - we may turn the pages to start a new chapter, but what we have lived previously will still be a part of our story. The events and people in our lives are woven together to make up our life's story.

So, the whole book is the story. Our whole life is a story.

Now, wouldn't it be silly to take a whole chapter of a book and tear it out or skip over it all together? We'd probably miss some good stuff and may not understand what is going on in later chapters. Sometimes in life we want to do just that - forget or deny (tear out) those pages that we don't like. You know the ones. They're the ones that deal with the grief, pain, failure, regret, etc in our lives.

To be honest, I had thought that when I started this new chapter in my life's story, the one titled "Finding Hope & Joy", that I had closed the pages on the last chapter titled "Living with Grief". I believed that I was somehow leaving the grief behind. Not the memories of my Kyle or his life, but the pain. That now the grief would be replaced by hope & joy. But, ya know what? It just doesn't work that way. We can't deny (tear out) the parts we don't like. Believe me, they will still be there. It's part of our story.

We all have a story to tell. I want my life's story to be one of encouragement. A story where the main character {that's me} never stops believing in the grace & mercy of God. Not even in the face of disappointment & pain. I really want others to see that Jesus is faithful, chapter by chapter and through the whole story of my life. So, to do this I can't go tearing out that chapter about grief. And boy would I like to! But, it is part of my story now. In order for the next chapters in my life to have meaning, it really needs to be there. It makes the joy after the pain so much more precious.

So, friend, I'm wondering - what do you want your life's story to say? Do you have a chapter that you'd like to tear out? I pray you will see how it is part of your story. I hope you can find joy and see how Jesus can weave it all together to create a wonderful story. The special story of you. And believe me when I say - He is faithful to be by your side through all the chapters of your life.

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5 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. "We can't deny (tear out) the parts we don't like. Believe me, they will still be there. It's part of our story."

    I so agree. I recently started realizing this and writing my story on Faith Barista.. today, a chapter is published, in fact.

    I came by to thank you for keeping me company at (In)Courage last week -- and adding to the post by sharing about the loss of your son & the hope you have through God!

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  3. Bonnie,
    Thanks for your comment and visiting me here at "Finding Hope & Joy".
    I have been following your story and am so very glad you are sharing it. I look forward to each chapter you share with us at Faith Barista.
    God bless you!
    Debbie

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  4. Hi Deb, I pray that somehow the Lord will have you take these stories and thoughts and experiences and share them beyond the pages of your blog! You have the makings of a wonderful speaker to women's groups and you are certianly a wonderful writer.
    Love Ya,
    JoAnn

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  5. JoAnn,
    Thanks for the encouraging words. I'm not sure where (if anywhere) this little blog of mine will lead.... it's really where the Lord will lead isn't it? We'll see - I'm willing and He is able.
    Love ya too!
    Debbie

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