Who Tells Your Story
I am a fourth-grade teacher. Every year my students read a book about a person who has impacted the world.
Every year my students read a book about a person who has impacted the world. Albert Einstein, Anne Frank, Jane Goodall, Bill Gates and many others. They learn how to paraphrase material, take notes, and write a paper about their person's life. Then they dress up accordingly, and present a speech to the rest of the class and the parents. This is one of my absolute favorite units to teach. The students learn how God has used many different people from all periods of time and history. He has used people with incredibly different abilities for a countless variety of purposes. Each of these people leveraged their unique God-given gifts and talents to make a difference, and in doing so made great impact. Many of them struggled, but in the end, they knew who they were, did what they needed to do, and later someone told their story.
Recently, we gathered in the family room around a crackling fire excited for family movie night. After scrolling through a handful of options, my husband chose Selma - the story of Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1965 fight for voting rights. It is a beautiful depiction of when he bravely orchestrated and led a march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. The movie inspired me. Why? Because Martin Luther King Jr. lived out his convictions without apology. He had to. He didn't worry about what people thought. He didn't sway off course because of what his reputation may be. He put one foot in front of the other with his eyes fixed on what he knew was right.
Alexander Hamilton’s story also inspires me. One of my favorite songs from the Broadway Musical Hamilton is called "Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?” The song is told from Eliza’s perspective, Alexander's wife. She outlived him by 50 years and amongst many things, became the founder of the first private orphanage in New York City. She told Alexander’s story. Alexander was a founding father and a revolutionist. His passion and pursuit led him to create our country's national bank. He wrote the Federalist papers like he was "running out of time". He was known to be over confident and pushy with his ideas. He clearly didn't live for the approval of people. He knew and lived out his purpose.
It’s often easy to look at Martin Luther King Jr., Alexander Hamilton, or others with a significant legacy and compare their stories to our own. And in doing so, we might feel like our smaller stories are insignificant. However, I dare to believe that when MLK, Alexander and Eliza were living their lives, they had no idea of the timeless legacy they were creating. They were just doing what they believed was right one step at a time.
The small stories matter because they unknowingly lead to the larger ones. The pastor of our church spoke to this a few weeks ago. He is a proclaimed perfectionist and likes his lawn mowed with lines in perfect parallels. As he cuts his lawn, he has learned that if he looks to the left and right to check the accuracy of the lines, he will swerve slightly off course but not realize it until he’s finished and looks backward. He concludes that rather than looking side to side, he has to keep his eyes fixed on a point far in the distance in order to keep the lines straight. In the same way, when we live with our eyes fixed on our individual God-given purpose, we have a better chance of not swerving off course.
I hope my life reflects the way I loved God and loved others. And after 42 years of living, I've learned that this is accomplished in the small, step by step ways. I am a wife, so I do my best to faithfully love my husband. As a mom, I try to be present for my kids. As a friend, I make myself available. In teaching, I try to make learning fun and prioritize relationships with my students. It’s funny because we never know which part of our story will impact the people in our lives. When I talk to former students, I am amazed that they remember me doing handstands in class more than anything I taught them. In the midst of a mundane day, it is fun to do something crazy to make them smile. Though it’s small, its purpose is to bring joy for a moment.
Academics or handstands, I've learned that I can't fully control what people will remember about me the most. But I can keep my eyes fixed on that point off in the distance. I can remember who I want to be and unapologetically live that out in my moments.
Heroes like Alexander Hamilton and Martin Luther King lived zealous lives. I want to be the same. Let's live knowing that someone will tell our story whether we like it or not. What will they say? If needed, how can we change the plot line? Or how can we let it rest? What can we surrender?
We may not have a book written about us that 4th graders will read and then present speeches on. But did Albert Einstein, Anne Frank, Jane Goodall, Bill Gates know that they would?
—Amy
Amy is a Cincinnati native. She met her husband in high school and married young at the ripe age of 21. Teaching has always been one of her passions, so she began teaching 4th graders right out of college. Starting a family earlier than she may have expected, Amy embraced the gift of staying home for 10 years. During that time, Amy and her husband Dan adopted their sweet daughter Anabel from Guatemala...a tale of learning to wait on God's timing and provision. Bringing Anabel home to 3 big brothers began the adventure of a noisy, energy-filled house with lots to learn about parenting with a balance of structure and grace. After her stay-at-home mom season, Amy re-entered the teaching world. She continues to learn that the many spheres of work-life balance can all be lumped under the umbrella of "Worship and Obedience"...It beautifully blurs into one. Amy loves colorful food, coffee with friends, being outside, and playing music with family.