I think every story should begin with those magical words, “Once upon a time…”.

I believe that ordinary lives are just as poetic as any extraordinary life could ever be, if we only thought to look a little deeper than the surface plainness that we are so quick to see.

I believe that every one has a story, wrapped up into the fabric of their every days, lived out in the ordinary moments.

I believe that, oftentimes, the greatest moments of one’s life are not the moments that the world sees and praises, but the quiet, unnoticed struggles and victories that perhaps no one will ever know about. True greatness may rarely make the news, but somewhere, I think that it is noted in the book of our lives.

God’s grace and his amazing love are written in a myriad stories wrapped up in the pages of the Holy Bible. He shows how He is powerful enough to change murders into evangelists and to raise up the most unlikely, imperfect of people to do great things for Him. And He he writes most of it in stories.

I believe that stories, our stories, are worth telling. Maybe not every detail. Maybe not every little piece scattered out to the masses. But every story has a place and a time.

My story isn’t a perfect story. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve gotten distracted. Not all my dreams have come true. I have broken pieces in my life and heart, and I have unanswered questions in my heart sometimes. And, somehow, that’s all okay.

My story has had a lot of unexpected twists and turns. My life looks little like I ever expected it to look when I was in my teens. Somehow, in spite of everything, it is still really more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.

I never wanted my story to have chapters of brokenness or to have pages filled with the mistakes of my own doing. But I believe that the One who is holding the pen still knows how to turn brokenness into beauty, and failures into a reflection of His unfailing grace.

I believe that God sometimes chooses to use our lowest moments and deepest heartaches as the starting place for our greatest strengths. I am forever in awe of the ways He uses our pain and brokenness to strengthen another traveler for the journey.

And for that reason, I am choosing to embrace my story, His forgiveness, and His plan for the future. I may not have all the adventures I’ve dreamed of, but this one adventure of a life that is lived in pursuit of Him? It is the only adventure I truly need.

Now you know a shadow of my story. Tell me yours?

Written for five-minute-friday, over at tales from a gypsy mama