The Gift of A Story
I love to tell stories. I am learning that telling a story and writing it are two completely different things. I much prefer my self-proclaimed Storyteller title.
My three year old granddaughter, Macy, she is a storyteller! When she was just beginning to talk and knew only a few words, she shared her first story with Papa and me. The only word we could recognize was dog. She was fully engaged in telling us a story about her dog. Whatever he had done, she had certainly found it funny. Over and over she repeated herself, and every time it ended with the clap of her hands and laughter.
Macy is accused of being like me. Like, that is a bad thing? I love that she has the gift to tell a story.
Storytelling is an ancient art form. Doesn’t that make total sense? God, the Ancient of Days, was a storyteller. [Daniel 7:9]
But hmmm….an art form? This idea indicates that there are other avenues that can bring a story to life. After some thought as to what these ways may be, I came up with creating, performing, writing, and singing as art forms that may be used to tell a story.
Then I wondered, “Has God used all these art forms to tell us His Story?”
Has God created a story? Check. God created the heavens and the earth. [Genesis 1:1]
Has He performed a story? Check. He parted the Red Sea among many other miracles. [Exodus 14]
Written a story? Another check. The Bible is the Word of God. [Deuteronomy 10:4; 2 Timothy 3:16; Revelation 19:13; John 1:1]
Told a Story? Absolutely! Jesus walked the earth teaching who He was and the way to His Father in heaven.
But does God sing? I wasn’t sure. I don’t recall ever learning that God sings.
So, I did what many of us do these days. I asked my smart phone, whom I have named Sarah, “Does God sing?” Sarah responded, “It’s all a mystery to me.”
I tried again. “Sarah, does God sing?”
I am expecting Sarah to refer me to some nugget of scripture to find my answer. But, no. Sarah says, “I would ask that you address your spiritual questions to someone more qualified to answer, perhaps a human.”
Wow. I wasn’t expecting that answer. I have become dependent on Sarah. She helps me find the right words, the right spellings, the right route, and the lowest gas prices. Now she was admitting she wasn’t smart enough to help me.
I took her advice. I took my question to the human I trust most, my husband.
“Does God sing?” I asked him.
We discussed that the Bible tells us there is rejoicing in heaven over every sinner who repents. But does rejoicing mean singing? When I am feeling great joy, I do sing. At least hum a bit. However, rejoicing is defined as great joy or jubilation, not singing.
I knew I had to take my question to the Master Teacher. [Matthew 23:10; John 13:13]
“Father God, do You sing?”
God was not slow to answer. Before the day had ended He had led me deep into the treasury of His Word to find this gem.
So does God sing? Yes! He surrounds us with songs of victory! He has demonstrated each storytelling art form as an example for us to follow. Why?
God has commanded us to tell the Good News, His Story. [Mark 16:15] We are called to be storytellers! When God calls us – He equips us.
Sharing the hardships and victories of our own life may be just the story that will offer hope and encouragement to someone else. It may be your story that is the one and only story that can make a difference: a difference that creates the desire in one to receive the Gift of God, Jesus Christ. [John 3:16; Romans 6:23]
For You are my hiding place; You protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory. Psalm 32:7 NLT
Sharing the gift of your story, with your storytelling gift,
offers the gift of Hope, so that the Gift of God may be accepted.
“… whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life
and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” John 5:24
This Christmas give the Gift of your story to someone. God is with you. He will take great delight in you and rejoice over you with singing! [Zephaniah 3:17]