The Power of a Story

Note: I wrote this a couple weeks ago. Enjoy!

Today I went to buy some sandals for my kids now that summer-ish weather is upon us. So with coupon in hand (thanks JC Penney!) we headed to the mall. My kids always love riding the escalator up and down, up and down. After one of our ventures down, I caught them as they started to play on the arm part that comes out of the floor, as many kids do. And so as many moms do, I quickly told them to stop and jump back, playing on escalators can get us hurt. Then I followed up my warning with a story. I told them how my cousin, several years older than me, had played on the escalators when he was a little boy, and got his arm stuck and got really hurt.

Instantly I had my kids’ attention. They were asking all sorts of questions...what happened? How did he get hurt? Did he have to go to the hospital? It's not that I wanted to frighten my children, it's just I wanted to let the simple thing I was teaching them sink in a little deeper. This particular story even brings back memories for me, because it's the same story my mom told me as a young girl to keep me from playing on the escalators.

I have used stories in so many ways as a mother. I have used them to illustrate a principle. I have used stories from my own childhood to humanize me for my kids, to help them know that I have been where they've been and felt what they're feeling. I've used stories just to lighten the situation and make them laugh.

Stories can be such powerful things. They can evoke feelings and bring back memories. I have felt happiness, or anger, or excitement, or peace...all when simply reading a story. I have learned something new, or remembered something I almost forgot...all when reading a story. I have felt connected to my ancestors through the reading of stories, and connected to my future posterity with the writing of stories. Even the leaders of my church often use stories when instructing and guiding church members. (You can read and listen to some of those stories from my church's past General Conference here.)

I love the power that a story can have. I like to tell stories, and write stories, and see the emotions a well-told story can bring to other people. This blog is a place for me to share my stories. Thanks for reading along. :)