Hello, God. It's me, Mara.

You know, Lord, as a child, I can imagine that any one of us just loved it when our mom would read to us. We would sit on Mama's lap and listen to every word. As she read, we would examine the details of every picture and wait eagerly to hear what was on the next page.

Did any of us ever think about the idea that our lives also tell a story? In every situation - good, bad, or indifferent - people around us are watching and listening to the story we are telling. Our story is communicated not only through our words but also through our attitudes and actions as we respond to life's buffetings and...