Who am I? What is my identity?
I can hear the legions of women asking themselves that question as they ponder Lisa-Jo’s weekly prompt over at The Gypsy Mama.
I’ll bet that “Mom” tops the list.
After all, when you have children, you become a parent.
You might still have a job outside the home, and so you might consider yourself a working mom.
Perhaps you have been involved in an activity through which you identify also as a runner, an athlete, a dancer, a writer.
All of this choosing an identity settles very uneasily on my shoulders, like a scratchy and unevenly stuffed canvas backpack.
What if those things that I see as giving me my identity go away?
What if I develop a chronic illness that robs me of my ability to run?
What if I am let go from my job, and can no longer find work?
What if, God forbid, I lose my children and cease the daily, chaotic dance of parenting?
What then?
Where is my identity? Who am I at that point?
I know the one constant of who I am, and that is a child of God.
That is unchanging and eternal.
So rather than naming and claiming ourselves as something which is temporary and can disappear in a heartbeat, what if instead we shift our perspective?
What if we look at the doing rather than being?
We lovingly parent, we joyfully run, we enthusiastically work, all the while embracing the wonderful and unique individuals we are.
Galatians 3:26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.
What do you happily create, prepare or perform as your wonderful self?
Sharing at No Ordinary Blog Hop, and The Gypsy Mama, where we throw caution to the winds on Fridays, and write for 5 minutes, or if you’re like me, whatever it takes. Join us!
Image credit-Lina Hayes via Flickr
YES! if everything else fades away, is our identity in Christ enough? I’ve been pondering this question and posing it to friends during discipleship moments through the week. A very important question for women to answer and seek God for the trust to know that HE is enough!
Yes, indeed. We must trust he is enough. Thanks for stopping, Jenilee!
Our one constant is that we’re children of God – there’s so much joy in that truth, and such a foundation for our lives. Great post, Kim – thanks. And Happy Mother’s Day!
Blessings,
Ann
Thank you, Ann, and a very joyful Mother’s Day to you as well!
What a deep and meaningful post!
Thanks so much! I hope it gave you wonderful ideas to consider.
yes, i have found it is in the stripping away of “titles” that we come face to face with our true identity. it is an image that i try to always hold close to my heart. even when other titles try to push their way in.
great sharing.
hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day, Kim!
steph
Steph, Your comment makes me think of the process as keeping a kitchen floor clean. Over time, the crud builds up, and if you just wax over it, you have sealed it in. You must regularly strip it all away and just start fresh.
Thanks for coming by!
You have a lovely and memorable Mother’s Day, too!
Great post, Kim! I agree with these sentiments wholeheartedly. It changes everything when we know where our true identity comes from, doesn’t it?
Thanks for your kind words, Becky. It’s always nice to know there are so many great moms who struggle with the same things as I do, and who encourage each other!
Kim,
You asked the hard questions. The ones we don’t want to think about. And somehow, knowing our true identity is so much easier to write than to live.
Oh, Laura, it is much easier to write than live. That’s one of the things I like about these communities is the constant reminder on wise living! Thanks for coming by and have a lovely Mother’s Day with your family!
Twitter: Soulstops
says:
Hi Kim,
Such insightful questions…yes, if we place on our identity on what can be lost, what then? So much better to place our identity on what can’t be changed: our identity as His beloved. It has been and continues to be a process for me to live fully into my identity in Him. Blessings and Happy Mother’s Day, Kim
Me, too, Dolly! It is a daily process. It is so good to see so many women who work towards this daily! Have a great Mother’s Day, Dolly!
I love being labeled by Jesus and not letting such an important task rest in the hands of others or myself! It’s liberating isn’t it not to be identified by what we do, which is ever changing, but by who he says we are.
Amen to that Beck! It always has surprised me as a relatively new Christian (6-ish years) how much liberation and freedom there is in our faith. Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a tremendous Mother’s Day with your hubbie and kiddos!
I happily care-give for my husband. My husband and I happily await the birth of our first grandchild in November. Just the anticipation of the blessings and joy that baby will bring has already enriched our lives. Therefore, I also happily love this baby I have yet to meet.
Happy Mother’s Day, Kim!
You bring a big smile to my face as I think about the grandchild who is coming your way, and how you dearly you love your family!
A Happy Mother’s Day to you as well, Connie!
Twitter: 3D__Vitality
says:
Wonderful! Joyce Meyer did a teaching once and talked about how we need to refocus on our “who” rather than our “do” and your post says much the same. Who we are as children of the Most High God, daughters of the King – will last forever. All those things we “do” are not who we truly are – as you said they are just activities we are blessed to do. So, I am a beloved daughter of the King who cares for a husband and children, works as a sales administrator and coaches people to health! Wonderful post.