Sister RoarNäide

You have a story and the world needs it. The circumstances of your life have made and will continue to make your roar deeper, more authentic. None of us has had an easy life, and, when you get down to it, no such thing exists! As Jesus himself said, “In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Real life includes the joys you’ve celebrated as well as the sadness you’ve endured. So go ahead and know that your roar will be made up of your best moments and your worst ones, the questions you’ve asked and the answers you’ve found. The battles you’ve fought and the ones you’re still fighting—as well as the defeats you’ve had to accept.

Maybe your roar will be loud and confident, or it may be soft and sweet, depending on your personality. It might have the sound of spoken words or maybe it’ll be expressed in some other way—through what you paint, how you love your family, the way you sing, dance, do people’s taxes, or host a terrific party. Your roar will laugh sometimes and cry like a baby on others. It can comfort, it can correct, and it can communicate healthy choices and boundaries as needed. It will cheer from the stands or speak boldly when you’re standing up for yourself or someone else. Sometimes it will cry out to God in desperation—and other times in ecstatic praise.

With the passing of years, with God’s grace, your roar will become a trusted source of wisdom, experience, and love for other sisters.

We’ve seen firsthand how a roar will change over time. Time and experience bring about growth. In the pages that follow, we will share how we once had a particular sound that now sounds very different. In my case (Lisa), my voice was once harsh and even nasty. Since then God has given me a compassionate, tender sound that comes across as more of a meow than a roar. There were years when Miss Kay hardly made a sound at all except to agree with what people told her. No more! She’s since learned to use her voice quite well! . . . Our voices have changed—thanks be to God.

We believe yours will too.

Prayer

Lord, I want to honor You with all that I do. Please help me grow and refine my voice so that I speak Your truth and love. Amen.