The Power of Stories
When I was in seminary and taking a course on Islamic culture and teachings, I learned something which changed the way I thought about stories. I was taught how Muslims normally do not bring gifts when they go to visit someone in the hospital. Instead of sweets or plants, they sweeten their lives and plant seeds of hope and inspiration through the sharing of stories. It was believed these words and stories were just as powerful and healing as everything the medical staff was doing. Every time someone hears your positive words and message, it is as if they were getting yet another dose of this much needed medicine.
All too often we are not aware of the power of our words and stories. I remember being in the grocery store one day and this person came up to me and said I am so glad to see you again. In all honesty, I still do not remember this person, but they remembered me. According to them, I encountered them at that same store on a day when they were severely depressed and considering committing suicide. They said I spoke to them, paid them a compliment, shared a moment, and left them feeling loved and important.i do not remember this incident at all, but the words they heard lived in them and began a process of healing which kept them alive.
Every day and every moment, we have the opportunity to share stories with each other that are a daily dose of love and hope for the future. Perhaps that is why I love serving meals to people. Every time we share a meal with others, every time we spend time with others, we are not only sharing stories, but we are creating stories and memories which warms not only our souls, but theirs and may carry them through.
Over the last year I have been blessed with the opportunity to send meals to those I love. The meal itself was a message of love. It sent a story that said I know you are going through a challenging time right now and I wanted to do what I could to lighten your load. Sometimes people hear your message to them through the food you offer them. They taste the love. They taste that you cared. The message you offered them will last in their memory and feed their soul long after the food is gone. This is one of the powers of stories.
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