When we get home, Mom, I’m going to take off my shoes and then I’m going to change into my green dress and then I’m going to get out the crayons and color with my sister.
She narrates our entire day.
Mom, did you see that? Did you see me do that leap? Here. I’ll do it again. Watch, Mom! I just put my legs like this, and then I bend my knees like this, and one arm goes up. Did you see that arm go up, Mom? And then I LEAP across the floor!
My four-year-old does this with most of her moments that make up our days.
And sometimes, honestly, it can be a bit . . . noisy. Sometimes I try to tune out the narration of why she needed to wear those socks with those shoes while she jumped up the stairs.
But most of the time I love it. Because my girl is telling the story of her days.
And I think of the Israelites. How many times are they commanded to remember? God reminded them often:
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt.” {Exodus 20:2}
Because when the Israelites forgot the story of their days, they wandered. When they no longer told the stories of what their God did to rescue them, they became ungrateful.
And just like my girl, I find myself narrating my days. But for me, it’s to keep my heart in check. For me, it is to make sure I am seeing correctly.
Because when I forget, I wander too. When I forget, I tend to see my days through the lens of entitled, of bitter, of insufficient. I tend to notice the dishes in the sink my husband didn’t put away. I tend to dwell on the wrong word chosen. I tend to look in the mirror and see those extra pregnancy pounds that linger.
And so I narrate my days to make sure I notice. I see them: “Look how well they’re playing together.” Or, “He just folded the laundry without my asking.” Or, “We have a roof over our heads and food on our table.” I see the strong bodies and the sturdy muscles and the clothes on our back that are stained on the knees from playing at the pond down the street.
And suddenly it all looks so very different.
Based on the story I tell myself, I am content or not, confident or not, trusting or not, grateful or not.
Telling the story is so, so very important. Because I don’t want to forget. I want to make sure I always tell myself the story of what is true, of what is good, of what is life-giving.
The Israelites had to be reminded time and time again of their own story: I am the Lord who brought you out of Egypt.
I need to be reminded time and time again, every single day, of the many, many places to find gratitude throughout my days and throughout my world.
Because I have it together until I don’t.
My kids are easy until they’re not.
I feel confident until I don’t.
But if I connect myself to my days, if I find things to be grateful for throughout the ebb and flow of it all, gratitude can shift my heart to tell an entirely different story.
I see them. I see him. The roof, the food, the strong bodies, the text from a friend, the leaves on the trees, and the sunset in the sky.
And suddenly my scene looks so very different.
So when your ground shakes and you have to squint to see the grateful and a season of Thanksgiving feels too heavy to carry, try telling the story again; see if maybe you can capture something new that shimmers amongst the hard.
What story are you telling?
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Related: Begin to narrate your own day and remember the many gifts God has given you in these beautiful journals.
Leave a Comment
Michele Morin says
Smiling and smiling because I’ve got a talker too! He’s number 4, and the youngest, so he and I get a lot of one-on-one time, and he loves to “narrate” everything. I am trusting for grace to be present to his words, because I know that my Heavenly Father is present to me when I go on and on about my plans and my needs. Thankful today for your words, Sarah.
Sarah Sandifer says
Thanks for the encouragement, Michele. Those talkers do keep us entertained, don’t they!?
Beth Williams says
Sarah,
Like the Israelites we need to be reminded. One way my church does that is they do communion each and every week! We have a communion meditation, song, prayers and the passing of the bread and grape juice. We are constantly reminded of what He did for us on the cruel cross!!
I, too, need reminds of His faithfulness. I will make a list of all the things big and small that I am grateful for. Then each day I write out why I’m thankful that day. It can be hey it’s Friday or got a raise! In that way I’m reminded of ALL His Goodness!!
Blessings 🙂
Sarah Sandifer says
I love that, Beth. It helps so much to be constantly reminded and I so appreciate the churches that I have attended that structure their service to lead us to that! I love making lists too- there’s something about physically seeing the blessings that helps us to remember instead of just trying to keep track of it in my own head. Blessings to you! xoxo
Pam Osborne says
Was reading a post earlier about the Harvest season. There are times we reap the blessings of seeds we did not sow, but the Father gifted them to us anyway. Helps give me an attitude of gratitude
Sue Donaldson says
great post, sarah! telling the true story of gratitude is so smart and warms God’s heart (and changes my attitude) Thanks for this. sue
Jenny Howell says
I have a strong all – day – long story teller too, except he’s 16! Those little talkers don’t grow out of it and IM SO THANKFUL for that. He keeps giving me the replays of his day and sometimes I can’t take another word but mostly I wound never wish away his words!
Sarah Sandifer says
🙂 This made me smile. Oh I HOPE she is still like this when she’s in high school and can’t hide any of her teenage shenanigans from me!
Jenny Howell says
So far so good over here! I have 5…and my talker is the first born. He still follows me around the house telling me stories until I say “NO MORE WORDS PLZ! I love you but….” 🙂
calista says
Oh, my, thank you so much for this post! I often need a reminder to focus on what my son has done well, rather than what he’s done not-so-well. There are days when I feel like he doesn’t get any encouragement or positive words from me and I am doing my utmost to make sure he gets more positive encouragement from me on a daily basis.