12 May 2020 / 11.59pm
Our stories, written on the pages of our lives, hold great power and should be read. Our lives' brokenness tells a story of God's power.
For the past four years, I've been teaching editorial design. I've seen my students weep as they shared their poignant stories.
I recall their stories...
I recall their tears...
She approached me after our session, tears in her eyes, as my story revealed the sad root of her existence.
“No tears in the writer,
no tears in the reader.”
- Robert Frost
Their stories are important to me. It is important to God, and it is needed by others. God has entrusted you with your experience, no matter how big or small you believe it is, to inspire others overcome their pain.
Sharing your story is a labour of love. It is not an easy process, but it may be the most essential thing you ever do.
Feel it...
Live it...
Tell it
That's what truth-telling is: allowing others to see what's on your mind. You do it not to be a victim of the story, but to free yourself from it and give yourself and those listening the freedom to choose what happens next.
I received a letter from one of my students one day,
"Dear Mr Tau Fei,
Sorry about the honest comments on your look yesterday, it was really fun to talk about those times! I am writing this because I am sincerely and gratefully thankful for all that you taught and guided not only me but everybody whom you met with. I will always remember that awkward encounter with you and you never stop emanating that passion and wise words to me on that very day after first lesson you had with my class. Honestly, I was really lost, at the same time, scared of what I can be or achieved. At home was a confusion and I never get a hold of myself. Truly, your decision through God's grace as you said has allowed me to look at things a lot differently now (although I still make mistakes, I still got a lot more to work on! :-) ).
Thank you, Sir, for inspiring me and other countless youngsters in this college and I hope you'll continue to do so with God's grace.
Honestly, you are my new role model now and I'll continue to strive my best to uphold my passion, attitude, and God! I would like to be the person like you who does a job of inspiring others and helping them on a common basis! Once again, I'll write this out so that I would not forget it again :-) - "Design is a way to Glorify God, who is the giver of creativity & talents."
See you next semester!
Regards,
Your Inspired Student,
Shiun "
I've had a lot of letters from my students. Their encouragement has enabled me to move on with a larger story to share. I am grateful to God for this humble journey.
You don't just help people by sharing your story; you also find those who care.
Today marks the conclusion of my "30-Day Inspiration" short story, and we parted knowing that God's great story of inspiration and healing was a story He began writing years before we were born.
I dedicate all of my stories to Him for His Glory!
Amen.
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