May 2014
Jill

 

When I am getting to know someone, I often ask, "So what's your story?"

  

I've never had a person not understand that question.

  

Sometimes they'll just start at the beginning and give an overview of their life.  Sometimes they'll focus more on their spiritual story and talk about how they've come to faith.  Regardless of what angle they decide to share their story from, they always have a story to tell.

  

Everyone has a story. (Tweet This) 

 

Our story is a compilation of our life experiences. It's the tale of our journey through life that includes our successes and failures, our good times and challenging seasons. It starts with the dynamics of the home and family we grew up in and continues until today.

  

Our story also can include the lessons God has taught us and the discoveries found in self-awareness. 

  

The best part of our story is telling about what God has done in our lives. We're really able to "love our story" when we can talk about the good and the bad, knowing that our value is in Christ and our past doesn't define us. Even better is when we can share how God has used the hard parts of life for His good.  This is when the truth of Joel 2:25 becomes real because "God has redeemed what the locust have eaten."

   

If you've been hanging around Hearts at Home for very long or have read any of my books, you've read parts of my story: how I learned to value motherhood as a profession, the challenges we've experienced in our marriage, the realities of parenting a child with mental health challenges, and more recently the stories of my breast cancer journey.  I've learned that stories are an important part of who I am as a speaker and a writer because people relate to stories much easier than to a "lecture."

  

Years ago I ran across this Native American Proverb that confirms this:

"Tell me a fact and I'll learn. Tell me a truth and I'll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever." 

  

I love how this captures the power of a story! Stories connect us to one another in incredible ways. (Tweet This) They bring empathy, hope, and encouragement to others. There are likely parts of your story that can help another person. 

 

So what's your story?

 

Joining you in the journey,

 

 

Jill Savage

Wife to Mark

Mom of Anne, Evan, Erica, Kolya, and Austin

Nana to Rilyn, Landon, and Marie

 

 

with Jill Savage

 

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If part of your story is overcoming the hurt caused by a parent or another person who let you down, these tips from Hearts at Home speaker Leslie Leyland Fields may be helpful. 

 

 

 

BONUS: Read an excerpt from Leslie Leyland Fields book, Forgiving Our Fathers and Mothers: Finding Freedom from Hurt and Hate, about how she learned to forgive her schizoid father here. 
You can meet Leslie Leyland Fields at the 2014 North Central Hearts at Home Conference where she will be presenting "Successful' Parenting or Faithful Parenting?" and "Forgiving Our Fathers and Mothers."  


Leslie is an international speaker who has written nine books including "Parenting is Your Highest Calling...and Eight Other Myths That Trap Us in Worry and Guilt" and "Surprise Child". Learn more about Leslie at www.leslieleylandfields.com

Rising Above Your Past to Give Your Kids a Great Future...

 

 

Whether or not you love your entire story, every part of it contributes an important piece to who you are today.  That isn't always easy. Especially if you struggle to overcome a mark left by the past.

 

Your experience as a mother and woman is influenced by the mothering you received.  If inconsistency or neglect was a part of that or if you need a healthier vision of how wonderful motherhood can be, The Mom I Want to Be provides that Godly, nurturing model.

 

From her own experience, author Suzie Eller shows you:

  • how to move beyond the fear that you'll pass on damaging patterns to your children.
  • ways to forgive, let go, and leave your parenting baggage in the past.
  • how to give your kids the gift of good memories and a great future.

 

Visit www.HeartsatHome.org for ordering information.

A Hearts at Home Mom Loves Her Story... 


 

"When our daughter was little, (small enough to be a little worried about falling into the toilet when she went potty), she walked in while I was going to the bathroom.  She looked at me and asked, "Mommy, why do you hang over the sides of the toilet when you sit on it?"  I felt so pretty knowing my thighs and hips were causing me to "muffin top" over the toilet seat!" 

 

~ Jody, mom of 2 adult daughters, and 3 granddaughters

 

 

 

  


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This Mothers' Day, you deserve a Moms' Night Out




 

Gather your sisters, friends, and moms group pals and make a date to see MOMS' NIGHT OUT, coming to theaters on May 9th.

 

MOMS' NIGHT OUT is an endearing true-to-life family comedy that celebrates the beautiful mess called parenting and stars Sarah Drew, Sean Astin, Patricia Heaton, and Trace Adkins (along with Alex Kendrick, Robert Amaya, and Kevin Downes from Courageous).

 

We highly recommend this opportunity for moms to come together for a night to laugh, cry, and just be appreciated in our job as moms ... and to have some fun in the process! In fact, here's what Hearts at Home Founder and CEO, Jill Savage, had to say after seeing the movie:

 

"You know, it's not likely that your toddler, teenager, or even young adult will give you a pat on the back and say, 'Gee mom, you're doing a great job!' Using large doses of humor, however, the Moms' Night Out movie provides the affirmation every mom needs to hear. If you're a mom, you need to see this movie!" 

 

Click here for a full list of theaters showing the movie.

 


 Hearts at Home
1509 N. Clinton Blvd.
Bloomington, IL 61701

Email: hearts@heartsathome.org

Phone:  309 828 MOMS

Web:  http://www.HeartsatHome.org