So, as I type up all these stories, I find myself feeling a little apologetic that they’re so repetitive. I hear people’s voices in my head: “Oh, it’s yet ANOTHER sob story; jeez, they’re all the same, *groan*.”

Well… Yes, there is a certain sameness to the stories. Seems like that, in itself, should say something. So many people all experiencing the same stuff.

But also: why do the program coordinators insist on having us hear from each family when the stories are so similar? Because… if you waited a year to present your story, would you want to be shunted aside just because your story was like everybody else’s? Imagine how worthless that would make you feel.

The mission is to build people up. Everybody has a story to tell. We listen to them all, and we give them all the honor they deserve. The last story deserves the same honor as the first.

We suburban folk here all have the same stories, ourselves. Kids in sports, so many activities, parents driving them all around, issues at work with management and co-workers, ambitious plans we have, the hopes we have for our kids, elder care, health problems. SOOO monotonous.

But wait, you say. We’re all unique.

Aha. My point.

So, I take notes and type them all up. Who knows, maybe something somebody says strikes a unique chord.

There’s also another aspect: accountability. That’s part of what we provide (both for each other and for the kids). We care enough to hold them accountable, and they give us an accounting when we arrive. Suppose we arrived, looked, and said “eh, you’re good; no need to tell us your story.” Also not good.