About the Author

Michelle Ami Reyes, PhD, is an author and activist. Her first book, Becoming All Things, is the recipient of the 2022 ECPA award. Michelle writes at the intersection of multiculturalism, faith, and justice. She lives with her family in Austin, Texas.

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things we love
& you will too!
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Thank you for giving me the courage to consider writing my story. Friends have incouraged me, however I’m not a writer. It’s been suggested that I search for a ghost writer,unfortunately I wouldn’t know where to begin to look for that person.

    • From what I understand, a person can publish a story using a pen name. In all of your publications, you would use the same pen name.

  2. It isn’t pleasant when someone shuts us down or dismisses us. Our stories are what makes us unique. When my daughter was a teenager, she just didn’t get it about what I was trying to teach her until I told her “my story”. It was her “aha” moment. Our stories enable us to be more empathetic to others. I use the “it’s been my experience”, or “I have observed” phrases. I think we need to use those words more often. Even if others do not accept our point of view, at least it usually gets them to stop long enough to listen. Maybe. I am sorry in what should have been a safe and respectful setting, was anything but. And yes, our stories matter to the God who created us.

  3. Everyone deserves to be heard, whether it’s in a brainstorming meeting or a family gathering or a larger audience. I’ve been in community since 2020 with Leslie Leyland Fields, who wrote a book titled Your Story Matters. She does an amazing job helping people understand that their story needs to be told, and teaching how to put their stories to the page.

  4. Michelle, I’m so sorry you’ve also had the experience of feeling like you’ve been shut down. It hurts. What a testament to grace that you’ve transformed that pain into empathy for others and encouragement to share our stories! Thank you. This meant a lot to me.

  5. Amen Michelle, even if our testimony falls to the ground, it will enrich the soil where we stand and where others are yet to walk.
    Once one hears or reads a faith story they cannot unhear or unread, the seeds of hope, encouragement, and faith are spread along the path, exactly how I felt reading your story today many thanks.

  6. I love how important you showed our story is our testimony. Maybe others will have faith hearing our story. Also we need not be afraid to hold boundaries with others and politely say I’d like you to show me respect and kindness by not interrupting me or others. Or we can come up with respectful guidelines before having a discussion. Boundaries by Drs Cloud and Townsend really helped me see how God does is in his word how to live. People will treat us better if we hold them accountable politely. They can’t know how we feel disrespected if we don’t say something. It can be done politely and kindly.

  7. When I grew up in the 1960s & 70s, my Mom drilled into us to be respectful of others, in what we said (or didn’t say) & how we acted. In my Teacher Training in college, I learned that ~80% of communication is Nonverbal.

    But in this Digital Age, where we spend every increasing time Online, those things slip further into the background. Too many people online, feel free to be nasty, mean, & disrespectful, because no one is holding them accountable, for what they say or their tone of voice.

    Unfortunately, this has made it’s way into online Christian organizations, ministries, blogs, & Zoom meetings too. Only God can change that dynamic, as our relationships continue to become less face-to-face.

  8. Michelle,

    I used to believe that I didn’t have a story to tell. Well God took care of that. He gave me trials to endure & thus a way to witness God’s faithfulness. Telling our stories is important. It allows others to know that they aren’t alone in their trials & tribulations. They can sense empathy from us.

    Blessings 🙂