What's your story?

Upon encountering someone new, we often ask in one way or another, "What's your story?"  But I believe that even familiar people are always telling us their story.  We are too, in one way or another.  

And reading Psalm 107-108 today reminded me that I far too seldom tell the stories (even the little everyday ones) which speak of God's goodness.  Psalm 107 goes through a series of telling stories of God rescuing His people, starting out with "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever" (1).  Here is an excerpt as an example, where God provided food for his people wandering in the desert:

Some wandered in desert wastelands,
    finding no way to a city where they could settle.
5 They were hungry and thirsty,
    and their lives ebbed away.
6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way
    to a city where they could settle.
8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
9 for he satisfies the thirsty
    and fills the hungry with good things. (4-6)

Today I was prompted to write my own Psalm 107.  There are so many good things for which to praise God in this week alone, and the psalmist does say "Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story" (2).  So I will tell a few of the stories of God's goodness to my family.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;

His love endures forever.

When a baby was about to be born, 

we were worried about how to care for the baby,

without family nearby to help.

We prayed to God for guidance and help,

and God provided for us, 

through the generosity of friends and neighbors,

through delicious meals brought to us,

through healthcare,

through encouragement from many,

and visits from grandparents.

When Brad's studies were finished, 

we were unsure of the path ahead.

We lifted our prayers to the Lord,

and He provided a job,

provision for our family,

and a fellowship to cover costs,

before the visa allowed Brad to work.

But God's goodness is expressed,

not just in the grand stories but in little everyday moments.

I can see God's goodness in the amazing, tiny ants,

that my one-year-old points out to me.

I can feel God's goodness in the rain,

when it quenches our thirst in the desert.

I can taste God's goodness in a bowl of yogurt,

providing energy and fuel.

"Let the one who is wise heed these things

and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord" (43)