The Moral of the Story -- cindy trane christeson

o7 “I haven’t found a person yet who doesn’t want to change one or many

areas of their lives.”f7

-- Becky Tirabassi

Recently I read that after six months, only 40% of New Year’s resolutions

are kept, and after two years, it drops to 19%. I wasn’t too surprised at

the statistics because I know change is hard.

Two weeks ago, however, I had the privilege of hearing an inspiring and

energizing speaker named Becky Tirabassi, who shared a powerful message

that could easily change those statistics.

The event was a beautiful afternoon tea held at the Hyatt Newporter.

Almost 500 women attended the event and I am sure that every one of us

there came away motivated and equipped to make lasting, positive changes

in our lives.

While mingling around ahead of time, I overheard several different

reasons for coming to the tea.

“I am so ready for a change,” one woman said. “Actually, I’m overdue. A

complete overhaul would be fine.”

Another woman had several of us laughing when she said, “The only things

I’ve changed lately are diapers.”

The idea for the afternoon originated with Karen Graves, the special

events coordinator for the Newport Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce.

“I thought we needed to have an event to encourage women in our community

and to let them know what a relationship with Christ is like,” Graves

explained. Graves contacted Heather Vodra, the director of marketing for

Tirabassi’s company, Change Your Life.

“The timing was perfect.” Vodra said. “It had been our heart’s cry to

bring revival in Orange County and the pieces started coming together.”

Graves, Vodra and several others worked together and prayed together, and

God abundantly answered their prayers.

“We were sold out,” Vodra said.

Tirabassi is a national author and speaker, and speaks to hundreds of

thousands of people each year to motivate them to change their lives. She

brings a message of hope and a way to change.

“Everybody wants to change one or more areas of their lives,” Tirabassi

said. She had us in stitches and in tears as she shared the story of her

life. Though she has told her story countless times, Tirabassi still got

choked up several times, and the room went silent as well.

“At the age of 21, I was desperate, addicted and humiliated.” Tirabassi

said. “I needed major change in every area of my life. I knew that only

God could help me.”

She then told us how God transformed her life, and explained how each of

us can achieve changes in our lives physically, emotionally, spiritually

and mentally. Though all the specific steps are outlined in her latest

book, “Change Your Life,” Becky made it clear where the power to change

comes from.

“Each of us can change by talking to the living, loving God, and asking

him to meet us right where we are.”

The impact of the talk was obvious as I listened to others, and the

stories I’ve heard since then show me that lives are changing already.

Yours could be one of them, starting today. You could change the

statistics. Better yet, you could change your life.

And you can quote me on that.

o7 A complete story about Becky Tirabassi will be in next week’s faith

section.

f7

* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks

frequently to parenting groups. She can be reached via e-mail at o7

[email protected] or through the mail at P.O. Box 6140-#505,

Newport Beach 92658.