Family Story: Consider the Plot {Developing Mission}

We have looked at defining our mission, but now it’s time to develop it a bit. I first wanted to share my own story of a recent plot development that drastically changed my family story.

While nursing my third child, I found great joy in reading a good book on my phone. When I finished Kisses from Katie, by Katie Davis, I was left with mixed emotion. On one hand I was amazed at this beautiful story that God was writing in this young girl’s life. Giving up college and moving to Uganda to then adopt 13 children…as well as supporting 100’s more. It was a story that reminded me of God’s faithfulness and graciousness. On the other hand, I was left feeling inadequate and lost. Why didn’t He choose me in some amazing way? What am I supposed to do with this desire to live a great story in the midst of suburban middle class life?

I looked around and realized that by the American Dream standard, we had arrived. We were living the American dream. My husband had a great job with lots of vacation, we lived in a great community in a quaint town. The city was next door, so we had all the cultural activities and amenities available to us. We had 2.3 children, I mean, 3 children.

But it wasn’t enough. We wanted more. We knew we didn’t want more stuff. We didn’t want more room for our stuff. We wanted more purpose. We wanted more margin for the Lord to write a story in our family’s life than we had allowed. As we looked around at our cookie cutter neighborhood in our quaint little town, which in and of itself can be wonderful things, but for us there was something missing. It may have been a life that we had envisioned, but it wasn’t the life we felt called to. We began asking the hard questions. What does this mean? What do we want? Where do we see our family going?

Even though we had been away for 2 years, in all of our previous visits back to Nashville we always sensed a need to go back home to Charlotte. This time was different. We drove around Nashville looking at Christmas lights, turned to each other and said, “We are home”, something changed in that moment and we knew we needed to move back. We went back to our house in Charlotte and suddenly felt like we were visitors.

We began asking the Lord, how do we get home? When do we go? It wasn’t until late summer that He would reveal His plan. A friend of mine had stopped by to visit and mentioned the business they were selling in Nashville. We had always been big believers in what they were doing…providing a faith based culture to learn music and dance. I had even called friends in Nashville and mentioned to them what a great opportunity this business would be. As she sat in my living room, I began to get excited at the prospect of this business opportunity for somebody else. That night I shared my excitement with my husband, “Somebody should see what a great opportunity this is!” His reply was not what I expected. “Why don’t we buy it?”

What?!? That’s not what I said.We aren’t musicians, we can’t run a music school. This was not anything that I had ever imagined doing. The idea felt foreign and uncomfortable.

We knew we needed to at least explore the possibility. To be honest, I wanted to be back in Nashville, but I had just settled into my picture perfect life. I had just planned out the school year and activities. I was looking forward to settling in. Then God simply asked, “Is this the story that you want?”

Ugh!

No. It wasn’t. I knew in my heart and soul that God had a better story plot. It was going to be uncomfortable. It was going to be messy. It was going to be hard. But it was going to be good. Actually His story would be far better than I could imagine.

Once I honestly answered, “I want Your story”, within days the doors of opportunity and provision flew open. We were buying a business, and 30 days later we packed up, moved, back to Nashville, and were business owners. It was all a bit surreal.

Business ownership isn’t for the faint of heart. There are times I miss my “I know what to expect life”. Then I remember the relationships and the opportunities we have as a family, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Now part of our family story includes giving up the comfortable, and trading it in for what is stretching us and growing us in ways we couldn’t have imagined. My kids have been along for the ride of many long nights and extra errands on the behalf of the business, but they are also learning what it means to work together and be creative in the arts. It will become part of their memory landscape.

Moving to Nashville may not seem like a big deal, but it was a major turning point in the plot of our family story. It has been a beautiful mess, but I am thankful for it all. It has been tough, disappointing, costly, and tiring, but the reward of being influential in the kingdom is priceless.

Like we’ve said, there is no real plot development formula besides adding up your values and how you spend your time, but there are also questions you can ask to develop your family mission.

What excites us?

How do we see our family thriving?

What compels us to action?

What breaks our heart?

Where do we feel called?

What brings a sense of purpose and fulfillment?

We have to be willing to hear the answer. Most likely, the answer to these questions will come from that teeny, tiny voice that comes from within. We may question where it’s coming from…but just remember we aren’t that smart, but He is. The great ideas come from the Greatest. Take some time this week to meditate on this idea of plot development. Ask the Lord “what do we want to be about?” It may not be a simple answer, but it’s definitely one to hear.

Tell us of a time that your family plot thickened. What is the hardest part of knowing what is next?