{Via} (edited by me)
My heart breaks as I watch the opening scenes. An unwanted child, the image of him crying himself to sleep after overhearing yet another family doesn't want him in their home. Seeing him wander the streets alone at night. Finding it unbearable that his idea of a good evening is finding a woman leaving her laundry unattended at the launderette so he can have clean clothes the following day.
I rejoice in seeing a women obediently open her home after seeing a teenager in need. I laugh at how he forms friendships with their children and shares jokes with the family.
I feel deeply the story, with all its ups, successes and cry with the sadder parts. It moves me, provokes me to think about the struggles of inner city kids, possibly even going on but a mile from my own home.
We watched the Blind Side.
I couldn't help but recognize how the Lord must have been beautifully wrecking the lives of this family. How their story came from obedience to what the Lord was leading.
How they could have just ignored that small nudge and minded their own business, leaving a teenager's well-being to someone else.
How they would have missed out on so much if they had.
I wonder how many people have been touched by this one family's story, how God has spoken to people through their example.
This is why we tell our stories. Our testimonies.
We share how God is at work in us, what He is breaking our hearts for and how we are struggling through this process of having our hearts broken. Through our struggles and victories as we do life together, we see a picture of redemption and grace when we seek after Jesus.
We see Him in the mess of our lives. In the mess of the lives of others.
Most of the story which inspired the Blind Side movie probably felt like a mess to the family that walked through those trials and victories. The challenges they faced probably felt like mountains at times.
Yet they didn't keep quiet about it all.
They shared their story, how God was at work in their family, and I am sure He is using it.
Each of us has a story, because each of us has God at work in our individual situations. Through broken relationships, marriages, parenting, struggling with singleness, struggling with eating-disorders. Our own individual situation, our own mess.
And we each have a choice. We can choose to be vulnerable, to live in community with others and share how God is at work in the mess. Or we can be silent.
It is totally scary to put ourselves out there and share our stories. Often there will be people who criticize us for doing it.
But lets keep shining for Him. Lets not keep silent about how He is at work.
Because that is how He can use us to touch lives.
This sweet spirit is so inspiring to me in sharing how God is at work and still protecting sacredness within her family. She continually says she is just sharing her story.
And God continually uses it to touch others. How you can see Jesus at work in her family. It is beautiful.
I may even share more of my own story later this week.
What do you guys think?
Much Love,
L
