Stories help us make sense of the world around us. We tell stories to explain what we are doing, how we got here and where we want to go in life. We tell stories to help us make sense of other people’s behaviour, of the way people act to us and around us. We tell stories about ourselves and about other people all the time. Sometimes we tell them to other people and at other times we tell ourselves stories.

But they are not always true: Elijah told himself a story that God was not with him, but God proved otherwise. Moses told himself a story that he was not good enough, but God convinced him that with God’s help he would be great. Sometimes we tell ourselves that people won’t like us, that they won’t pick us, that they don’t want us: But some of these stories are not true either.

Why not practice telling yourself some new stories: A story that God loves you and wants the best for you, that if you do your best, give what you can and think kindly of others then good things can happen. Try remembering a story in your life when you succeeded in something, a story of when you laughed a lot, a story of when you felt cared for and encouraged.

These are the stories that will help the world feel warmer and kinder.

These are the stories that will help you see God at work in your life.

I’d love to hear some of your stories the next time I see you.

Take care.