My mornings usually (meaning...sometimes they don't) involve reading. My mind is fresh, or freshly jump started with several cups of coffee. Lately, I've been getting a good hour of reading in before the inevitable occurs...."DADDY"!!!???!!! penetrates the solitude of my environment, and reading is over.
Today, I sprinted upstairs to the side of my sweet three year old daughter's bed to assist in the "getting up" process. She typically wants to get right up, and have me carry her downstairs. Today was a bit different. She invited me in for a cuddle (I must take advantage of these offers, as they will disappear over time). Our dialogue:
Are you cold? I ask.
No, I'm scared. She replies.
Scared of what? I ask.
Scared of the dark. She answers.
I understand, sweetheart. There was a time when I was scared of the dark too, but you're ok. I assured her.
Daddy, tell me a story of when you were scared of the dark. She says.
I proceeded to share some stories of my childhood--times when the dark was scary, and how I was afraid that "things" would get me. I assured her that nothing ever "got me," and that the dark ended up not being as scary as I once had thought.
I find it interesting that my assurance that everything was okay was not enough. It was the story that comforted her. It was me being authentic and vulnerable. She didn't want my opinion on the dark. She wanted to know my experience with it. It was a sweet moment! It was real relationship.
We live in an over opinionated culture, one with very little depth and few stories (even though we all have one). When is the last time you shared your story? When is the last time you left your opinion on the shelf, and were vulnerable with your story? Who in your life is "afraid of the dark," and simply needs your story to be comforted? What doors could you open be telling your story?
Telling your story, being vulnerable and authentic, builds trust. Trust is what I want my daughter to have in me--because there are other parts of my story that I pray she will want to hear too.
"My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long--though I know not how to relate them all. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone. Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come" Psalm 71:15-18
