quote about story

From Children's Spirituality p. 13-15

a well-told story must be told by someone who loves the story ("it must be vitally important to storytellers and they must be wrapped up in the story") and loves his/her listeners.
"These two components reflect the two great commandments-loving God (the story) and others (the children)." [W. Wangerin(2003) and Bruner( 1986)] Children's Spirituality p. 13.

a well-told story is a world where the listening child can live

a well-told story shapes those who hear it

a well-told story gives structure to random life experiences

a well-told story must grant the child personhood

A well-told story is always an act of community. Child and storyteller are companions. Together, they share the joys and guilt of the story. The differences between generations are irrelevant because the phrases of the story are repeated generation to generation.

A well-told story will leave the listener wanting to hear it over and over not to get to the end but to re-experience the story.