Home
About
Contact
Write 31 Days
“It is never just your story.” The editor’s words cut through the classroom with razor-like precision. I ponder them and am ashamed to count the number of times I thought it was.
Weeks later, as I worship with my church family, I realize how thankful I am for the truth in her words. It’s not just me. No, there are others. There is an entire body to carry me when I am discouraged, offer an uplifting word when I need it, to push me to keep pressing toward my goals.
Where would I be without them? Where would I be without my husband, who, when I walk away, tells a friend that I need a word of encouragement?
Sometimes, the worst possible answer to the question, “How are you?” is “I’m fine.” And yet so often, that is my immediate response.
“I don’t want to burden them with my issues,” I think to myself.
“They wouldn’t understand,” the enemy lies.
“They’re too busy with their own problems.”
Getting me to admit to anything other than, “I’m fine,” is often like performing a root canal without an anesthetic. I hide behind my “I’m fine” cape with ferocious determination.
Today, God showed me power behind three simple words: I’m not fine. He showed me that when I am as transparent in person as I am on the page, community is born. And in the midst of community, we rejoice in each other’s successes and carry each other’s burdens.
But to do any of these things, we must be real.
Real community never happens without the element of vulnerability.
When we put up walls and never allow people to see our struggles, all they ever see is a facade. A fake smile to go with a fake response and we all go about with our day.
True bravery starts when we truest version of ourselves, even if it starts with just one person.
What would happen if we let people in? It starts with trust, but trust always begins with putting yourself out there. With letting someone see the real you, even if it’s just a piece.
As you go about your week, in the midst of your errands and to-do lists, remember that it is never just your story.
And then praise God that it’s not.
Share on Tumblr
Posted August 11, 2014 at 7:33 am by Julie Lefebure Thank you, Abby, for allowing God to speak through you this morning. I appreciate you sharing this! So needed for me today. Have a blessed Monday! Like Like Reply Posted August 11, 2014 at 2:27 pm by Abby It’s something He’s been pressing on my heart, Julie. I’m so glad it spoke to you when you needed it. Blessings to you, friend! Like Like Reply
Thank you, Abby, for allowing God to speak through you this morning. I appreciate you sharing this! So needed for me today. Have a blessed Monday!
Like Like
Posted August 11, 2014 at 2:27 pm by Abby It’s something He’s been pressing on my heart, Julie. I’m so glad it spoke to you when you needed it. Blessings to you, friend! Like Like Reply
It’s something He’s been pressing on my heart, Julie. I’m so glad it spoke to you when you needed it. Blessings to you, friend!
Posted August 11, 2014 at 7:56 am by Faith To Shine Abby, I love the sentence “If I am as transparent in person as I am on the page, community is born.” Oh, friend, these are truth words for me today! Thank You for sharing!! Like Like Reply Posted August 11, 2014 at 2:29 pm by Abby Thank you so much for your encouragement, Brandi! Why is it easier to be transparent on the page? I don’t know, but I’m striving to be real in person too. It is rewarding! Have a great week, friend. Like Like Reply
Abby, I love the sentence “If I am as transparent in person as I am on the page, community is born.” Oh, friend, these are truth words for me today! Thank You for sharing!!
Posted August 11, 2014 at 2:29 pm by Abby Thank you so much for your encouragement, Brandi! Why is it easier to be transparent on the page? I don’t know, but I’m striving to be real in person too. It is rewarding! Have a great week, friend. Like Like Reply
Thank you so much for your encouragement, Brandi! Why is it easier to be transparent on the page? I don’t know, but I’m striving to be real in person too. It is rewarding! Have a great week, friend.
Posted August 11, 2014 at 3:41 pm by Katie @ Pick Any Two I distinctly remember opening up to a friend one time about a major struggle I was going through. Her reaction? “I had no idea!” I was stunned because to me it was so obvious, and yet I had maintained a perfect facade the entire time. If only I had let my true self show, I could have received her love and support so much sooner. You are so right that we need to be vulnerable in order to truly connect. Like Like Reply Posted August 11, 2014 at 8:55 pm by Abby Yes! I’ve been there too, Katie. Thinking it was obvious but it wasn’t. I’m so glad you go the support you needed, though. Thanks for sharing your thoughts here today. Like Like Reply
I distinctly remember opening up to a friend one time about a major struggle I was going through. Her reaction? “I had no idea!” I was stunned because to me it was so obvious, and yet I had maintained a perfect facade the entire time. If only I had let my true self show, I could have received her love and support so much sooner. You are so right that we need to be vulnerable in order to truly connect.
Posted August 11, 2014 at 8:55 pm by Abby Yes! I’ve been there too, Katie. Thinking it was obvious but it wasn’t. I’m so glad you go the support you needed, though. Thanks for sharing your thoughts here today. Like Like Reply
Yes! I’ve been there too, Katie. Thinking it was obvious but it wasn’t. I’m so glad you go the support you needed, though. Thanks for sharing your thoughts here today.
Posted August 11, 2014 at 8:33 pm by Lizzie Ohhh so that was just a piece of the real you!? I gotta keep digging! Ha! I wanted to tell you that when you quoted that verse in Timothy today- I realized how much you know and how little I know and how much I need you and your wisdom to reassure my doubts! I love youuuuu and appreciate you and the gnome. haha Like Like Reply Posted August 11, 2014 at 8:57 pm by Abby Oh, that was more than a piece, Lizzie! LOL. I felt so much better after talking to you. Sometimes you just have to get things off your chest to move on. I love you too. And I am older! I have the benefit of years. Ha! My gnome makes me wise. xoxo Like Like Reply
Ohhh so that was just a piece of the real you!? I gotta keep digging! Ha! I wanted to tell you that when you quoted that verse in Timothy today- I realized how much you know and how little I know and how much I need you and your wisdom to reassure my doubts! I love youuuuu and appreciate you and the gnome. haha
Posted August 11, 2014 at 8:57 pm by Abby Oh, that was more than a piece, Lizzie! LOL. I felt so much better after talking to you. Sometimes you just have to get things off your chest to move on. I love you too. And I am older! I have the benefit of years. Ha! My gnome makes me wise. xoxo Like Like Reply
Oh, that was more than a piece, Lizzie! LOL. I felt so much better after talking to you. Sometimes you just have to get things off your chest to move on. I love you too. And I am older! I have the benefit of years. Ha! My gnome makes me wise. xoxo
Posted August 12, 2014 at 9:13 am by Katie Reid (@ImprintsKatie) What a gift to be in community with you Abby. We are here to lift up one another and live beyond the surfacey “I’m fine.”:) Like Like Reply Posted August 12, 2014 at 7:45 pm by Abby I am so grateful for you too, Katie. :-) I am encouraged by so many of the writers I’ve met over the past year of blogging and you are one of them! Like Like Reply
What a gift to be in community with you Abby. We are here to lift up one another and live beyond the surfacey “I’m fine.”:)
Posted August 12, 2014 at 7:45 pm by Abby I am so grateful for you too, Katie. :-) I am encouraged by so many of the writers I’ve met over the past year of blogging and you are one of them! Like Like Reply
I am so grateful for you too, Katie. :-) I am encouraged by so many of the writers I’ve met over the past year of blogging and you are one of them!
Posted August 13, 2014 at 7:04 am by Simply Beth I always say when we take that step to be real and honestly share our heart we also open the door for others to feel encouraged to do the same. Great thoughts, Abby. Thank you for sharing your heart. Much love. xoxo Like Like Reply Posted August 14, 2014 at 10:10 am by Abby Yes, being so real is tough sometimes but so worth it. Thanks so much for stopping here, Beth. Much love and blessings to you, friend. Like Like Reply
I always say when we take that step to be real and honestly share our heart we also open the door for others to feel encouraged to do the same. Great thoughts, Abby. Thank you for sharing your heart. Much love. xoxo
Posted August 14, 2014 at 10:10 am by Abby Yes, being so real is tough sometimes but so worth it. Thanks so much for stopping here, Beth. Much love and blessings to you, friend. Like Like Reply
Yes, being so real is tough sometimes but so worth it. Thanks so much for stopping here, Beth. Much love and blessings to you, friend.
Pingback: 3 Myths About Depression That Need to Stop | Fearfully Made Mom
Posted October 31, 2014 at 11:27 am by Suzanne (Suzie) Eller I just want to say a huge “amen” on being real and allowing people to see who and what we are, so that we can band together. <3 Like Like Reply Posted October 31, 2014 at 5:42 pm by Abby Yes indeed, Suzie! It can be hard but it’s so worth it. Thanks so much for stopping here today. Like Like Reply
I just want to say a huge “amen” on being real and allowing people to see who and what we are, so that we can band together. <3
Posted October 31, 2014 at 5:42 pm by Abby Yes indeed, Suzie! It can be hard but it’s so worth it. Thanks so much for stopping here today. Like Like Reply
Yes indeed, Suzie! It can be hard but it’s so worth it. Thanks so much for stopping here today.
Posted October 31, 2014 at 11:55 am by betsydecruz Hey Abby! I love that sentence: “I’m not fine.” A stroke of genius or of the Holy Spirit. I’m not sure which. It’s a great way to communicate though. When we’re not fine. Like Like Reply Posted October 31, 2014 at 5:43 pm by Abby Yes, I’m learning that it’s ok to say that, Betsy. And make others open up too. Thanks you for sharing your thoughts and have a great weekend! Like Like Reply
Hey Abby! I love that sentence: “I’m not fine.” A stroke of genius or of the Holy Spirit. I’m not sure which. It’s a great way to communicate though. When we’re not fine.
Posted October 31, 2014 at 5:43 pm by Abby Yes, I’m learning that it’s ok to say that, Betsy. And make others open up too. Thanks you for sharing your thoughts and have a great weekend! Like Like Reply
Yes, I’m learning that it’s ok to say that, Betsy. And make others open up too. Thanks you for sharing your thoughts and have a great weekend!
Posted April 30, 2015 at 12:58 pm by Lisa Reblogged this on Me Too Moments For Moms . Like Like Reply
Reblogged this on Me Too Moments For Moms .
Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:
You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out / Change )
You are commenting using your Twitter account. ( Log Out / Change )
You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out / Change )
You are commenting using your Google+ account. ( Log Out / Change )
Connecting to %s
Notify me of new comments via email.
Notify me of new posts via email.
Let's stay connected! Click to follow and never miss a post.
Hi! I'm Abby and I'm so glad you're here. I am a wife and a mom of two very energetic boys. When I'm not chasing them around I love to write about my love for a God who relentlessly pursued me, even during my darkest times. Read more...
For the One Questioning Who God Is
When Giving Hurts
When the News Makes You Want to Run in Fear
Uncovering the Lies of Postpartum {Part 3}
Uncovering the Lies of Postpartum {Part 2}
Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.
Join 4,337 other followers