During college I used to go to a worship service at my church every Wednesday night. I remember one time at the beginning of the school year, the speaker that evening asked us to turn around and introduce ourselves to someone and describe ourselves in one sentence. After the hustle and bustle of the greetings, the speaker asked us a question…. “How many of you introduced yourselves as a child of God?”
Of course, almost no one had considered their identity in Christ when giving their brief introduction. We linked ourselves to the cultural norms of college and young adult life. I’m a sophomore. This is my major. This is my job. I’m from this city.
Few were wise or bold enough to say “My name is ___________ and I am in God’s family.” Or “I belong to Jesus.”
Although I said something superficial during that introduction years ago, the most important thing about me is that I am a Child of God. I am chosen by Him and loved by Him, and He should shape all I do and say day in and day out. Because I am not my own; I belong to God {I Corinthians 6:19-20} and anything I do in the day, big or small, significant or not, should be done for God’s glory {I Corinthians 10:31}.
I think in adult life, most people associate their identity with their job. I’m a lawyer/doctor/nurse/teacher is the first thing we hear from people’s lips when meeting them for the first time.
But for some reason I don’t relate myself very closely with my job these days. Maybe it’s because I’m in grad school, so I feel like part-student, part-teacher, and part-crazy person with a lot of books to read…. which isn’t so easy to explain when introducing myself.
So when asked to articulate what I do, that answer seems muddled as well. I take grad classes; I teach undergraduate writing courses; I substitute teach on the side, but only if I have the time. Oh, and I cook dinner and manage a home and hang out with my husband and try to make time for girlfriends. And I go to church, and I exercise, and I make a lot of phone calls because I live far away from my family and all my best friends.
But when it comes down to it, who I am is really simple… I am a child of God. And, therefore, what I do is also straightforward… I live a simple life for God’s glory {I Timothy 2:2-3}. At any given time this might mean mounds of essays to grade and books to read, date night with my husband, doctor’s appointments for the baby growing inside my womb, singing karaoke with girlfriends, or sitting on the couch reading my Bible in the morning. In fact, it probably looks a little bit like this…
this post was a great way to start my morning 🙂 Here's to going forth and leading a simple, godly life in whatever ways come up today!
life can sure seem complicated when juggling multiple roles…thanks for the reminder of trying to live simply and remember we are first and foremost a child of God!
Awww, I loved your post. What a sweet picture of your baby's feet. I melted. Thanks for sharing!
I just found your blog from Jenni's link up. I love this post. I feel like I can relate in many ways to what you wrote. Thanks so much for sharing this!
Hi lovely!
I just wanted to let you know I'm discontinuing my button swaps for now but I really enjoyed havIng you on my blog!! Congrats again on the pregnancy;)
Xoxo hanna
Well said!!!! Love this post!