It’s been 6 months since our official release of Step Inside… Where Stories Come to Life and we are learning a great deal from people who have read the book and have listened to the CD.

It is very meaningful to know the book and CD have provided people with a time of quiet in travel to and from work, an opportunity for family togetherness as they read or listen, or a re-focusing before retiring for the evening.

The book and CD has been purchased and sent all over the nation and is starting to gain interest in other countries. In fact, on our website there is navigation to a place on our website all about Step Inside.

One particular story, “A Song For The Darkness,” is gaining a unique momentum. The reason I know this is true is that I am telling it over and over again and the wonderful comments are finding their way back to me.

I have to admit, I love telling this story… for several reasons. I enjoy seeing the expressions on people’s faces as I describe Aunt Lily, her upstairs basement, and share her secret to living the long fulfilled life that she did. I enjoy the laughter and the tears brushed away from the faces of an audience. I am especially touched that Aunt Lily’s niece in the story—Constance—rings familiar in young women’s lives similarly struggling with not being married by a certain age, settled into a career, the tension of defining oneself as a young adult woman in our culture. To have one of them whisper to me, “Melea, thank you for this story. I have hope again…” is profoundly moving for me.
My hope in writing this story was to target two generations—senior women and young adult women—and give them an anchor of Truth about the profound power of our character.

Recently I placed a quote at the top of my facebook page by the famous coach and sage, John Wooden. It seemed to ring true for some of my friends—

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."

Aunt Lily was a character but she also possessed the quality of a woman with a heart after God. The story says, “Aunt Lily loved God, people, and her dogs. It was that simple.”

Too often we are working on our reputation rather than our character. Worrying about wrinkles instead of forgiving others. Obsessing in our work place instead of playing a game of Uno or catch with a child. Forwarding a funny email when a phone or a letter would make all the difference in that relationship. Let others believe you are super-holy when really you are just as needy as they are for God’s love.
Aunt Lily left a lasting legacy for her niece, Constance. A legacy is what remains of our story after we are gone. It certainly can mean the financial or physical gain we leave behind for others, but the legacy I am speaking of is what we were known for—the essence of the person we were known for during that lifetime of living.

I hope my story, “A Song For The Darkness,” gives you the opportunity to ponder your character and legacy today. You can listen to it right now and purchase my book and CD, Step Inside, at a special discount.

Enjoy…

www.coachwooden.com A website all about one of the most influential coaches and mentors of our century—John R. Wooden. He’s 83 years young! His book, Wooden: A Lifetime of Obrservations and Reflections On and Off the Court is a worthy read.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ0z86LmXBM “Say What You Need To Say” by John Mayer from the movie, The Bucket List

Nothing Left Unsaid: Creating a Healing Legacy with Words and Letters by Mary Polce-Lynch, Ph.D.

Romans 5:3-5 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that.