Show the scars

In the writing group I attend, Words for The Journey, Michelle reminds us that our goal is to bring hope to people through our writing. When we reach out to give that hope we sometimes have to cause pain, pain to ourselves. To offer others hope we uncover who we are, the broken roads we have traveled and the pits we have fallen into. Sometimes we want to write a story without showing that brokenness but when we do, no one can relate. We must take off the bandages and show the scars.

I wrote a story for the Chicken Soup for the Soul book on Tough Times, Tough People but I did not share the tears. I did not go deep because if I went deep I would have to dig up the buried pain. I had not sent in my story yet and I thank God that I had delayed. This morning God showed me that what I wrote would not cause anyone to say “that’s me”. There was no substance in it. So I took the bandages off and rewrote the story.

It is not easy to put your life out there for the world to read but our lives and callings are not for our comfort. Everything we do is for the Kingdom. If one person is encouraged not to quit, because if we can make it so can they, then it is worth showing the scars. You don’t have to be a writer to do this. People are put in your path everyday that are hurting, they need to hear your story of victory.