Stories to Give Him the Glory

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in His name. // John 20:30-31

On my bookshelf, tucked behind a grocery-store Guadalupe candle, sit four copies of a book I wrote. One is in English, one Italian, one Polish, and one Slovokian. The book tells the story of my son’s miraculous healing when, over eleven years ago, Jesus brought my newborn back to life after sixty-one pulseless minutes. I wrote the book for the glory of God and the good of His Church. I wrote it so that anyone who read it “may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief [she] may have life in His Name” (John 20:31).

I’ve spoken about this great miracle many, many times. I’ve told the story in radio and podcast interviews, to reporters and photojournalists and documentary crews. I’ve shared the details in Zoom calls and at galas, before middle schoolers and bishops.

But I don’t share everything. Some things are just mine, to only be shared with the Lord. Many of the details of our son’s miracle need to be shared, and my family and I believe were given to us so we could share them. But some moments, some prayers, some feelings, some consolations are mine only. To share those intimacies would cheapen them.

I don’t know why John did not write down the many other signs Jesus did in the presence of His disciples, but I wonder if it’s because some of them were too special, too personal.

In your life, too, there has surely been significant moments where God’s grace has been abundant and obvious. Some of those moments are to be guarded and some are meant to be shared with your friends, family, and neighbors so that they may come to believe (or be reminded) that Jesus is the Christ, so they may have life in His Name. Think on which to share today and which to keep tucked in your heart.

God’s grace has been abundant. // Bonnie Engstrom Click to tweet

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