growing girls – Kristi Burden

I sat cross-legged on my living room floor last night bubbling with joy. Everywhere in front of me sat a beautiful girl or woman with a story. What's so special about that, you might think. Everybody has a tale. (Of course they do.)

I sat encircled by ladies who have graciously shared tender parts of theirs. They took their own personal experience, whether it was embarrassing or still even a little painful in some cases, and they laid that experience bare for the world to see. I'm just plain lucky to call them friends, but more than that, I've been personally touched by their willingness to be agents of God's grace in the telling of what He has done in their life to whomever will listen.

These are the local faces of The Village Girl Handbook. Along with fifteen other fabulous ladies (who live elsewhere), this group has put more than words on pages. Between the lines they're cheering on growing girls by becoming vulnerable and committed to an audience they've never met.

But I guess that's how life works. There are people who watch our life stories play out and then those who will never know of the things we've overcome, or learned from, unless we tell them. We can do life simply working by the clock, influencing and encouraging those in our peer and familial circle or we can recognize that there's a larger audience who could benefit from a display of God's faithfulness.

We're mindful of what God has brought us through, what he has taught us, and our intent is to share that very thing in the hopes that it encourages.

Please pray with us that those who pick up The Village Girl Handbook will feel encouraged and empowered. Pray that they will be reminded that God loves them and is writing a good story even in the midst of struggle or a season that seems directionless or fruitless.
Please consider your own story and how you might share it with someone who would be encouraged by it. Share this post with someone you know who has a powerful testimony.
Think about getting a book in the hands of a girl who needs to know more about God's grace.

A second volume of "The Village Girl Handbook" is now being complied. The deadline for stories is August 11. Each story needs to be around 400-600 words and presents a personal story of struggle during middle or high school that ends in overcoming or perspective. (I've got an outline I can send to anyone interested). Let me know if you have a story you'd like to share.

Jesus prayed:

I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them... John 17:26

Let's follow suit.

More faces of VGH contributors: