We weave thick vines in and out of and around our circular, amateur base to create a decorative ball. Soon, solar lights will be added to make it a visible yard ornament for the dark fall and winter nights that stretch ahead of us. It seems to be an illustration of our friendship. By now, after 45 years, we’ve held hundreds of each other’s stories. Some have been lived separately and some have been lived together. Even the ones we’ve lived apart become “together” stories once they are shared. Our lives have become interwoven over the years.

After hunting for vines in the forest and stuffing them in our cart, we trek back to my front yard to craft with vines, an activity we’ve never done before in our long friendship. Throughout the next hour, we create a new story. Scissors, twine, and large clippers are the tools of our new craft.

The weaving and sharing of old and new stories with a good and safe friend helps keep us accountable for speaking and living out truth, goodness, and beauty. I am thankful for dear friends, old and new. Weaving stories with them into and around the sure foundation of life in Christ brings abundance and experienced grace.

"Christ is my firm foundation
The Rock on which I stand
When everything around me is shaking
I've never been more glad
That I put my faith in Jesus
'Cause He's never let me down (Yeah)
He's faithful through generations
So why would He fail now?
He won't (No, He won't, no, He won't)
He won't (He won't, He won't, He won't)"
"Firm Foundation (He Won't)" Lyrics
Writer(s): Cody Carnes, Austin Luke Kaleolanakila Davis, Chandler Moore, Mutiat Isola, Clark Dominic Lacossade

I remember the friend I have in Jesus. He reminds me to speak kindness, beauty, truth, and goodness over my past and present stories. He’s shared in each of them, always present and actively engaged. He is intricately woven into the fiber of my life story which is taking shape to be a beautiful display of His mercy and grace. His story of grace woven into my story brings light into the darker parts of my story and the world’s. Even better than the best of friends, He is always present and weaving grace. He is making my story…your story…a graced story; a story graced by His presence

“So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.” -Isaiah 28:16

Sharing your story with a friend and with someone trained in coaching or counseling through stories, sheds light on God’s presence throughout your life as well as what His purposes for you might be going forward. Graced stories can be warmth and light as we face darkness that will inevitably come in the future. Even though I’ve spent a fair amount of time considering God’s story of grace woven throughout my own life story, I continue to see new things each time I consider God’s presence in my story. I realize that I need to ask myself, again and again, “How is His grace and presence being woven into my current story?”

When was the last time you asked yourself what you see God doing in your current life circumstances? How is He engaged with you? What is He doing or allowing in your life? What are you learning throught that? Have you talked with Him about that? Sometimes we need someone trained in listening to our stories, asking important questions about them, and using tools that help us to see God’s presence and grace in them. Do you have that in your life?

I help Christian women make sense of their life stories and how God has graced them with His presence. Graced Story Coaching is an opportunity to examine our lives as stories in which God’s grace is the principle theme. It is not only our own story that we consider, but the story of God’s initiatives in our life. I offer a free initial consultation to find out how my Graced Story Coaching might help you. Please click on the button below to message me, I’d love to talk with you!