I remember the first time our eight-year-old realized I had a name other than Mama. And his dad had a name other than Dadda. We were sitting at the dinner table and my parents were visiting. Of course, they do not call us Mama and Dadda.
It was as though a light bulb went off in his growing brain. The fact that we were people before we became parents was new territory to be explored. Questions came pouring faster than he could formulate words.
I smiled, but made sure he knew that to him, my name would always be Mama. Or Mom. Or some variation of it. But never, Abby.
I wear the title of Mama proudly like a badge because motherhood changes us, doesn’t it? And yet at the same time, I don’t ever want to let it define me.
There are times when I have to remind myself that my identity exists outside of the roles of wife, mother, and friend.
These different roles shape me and mold me, but they don’t determine who I am.
Some of you reading this might be puzzled, so let me explain. My search to discover who I was at a core level began after I became a mom. I remember those first days when I couldn’t get my newborn to stop crying, and I would cry right along with him.
Everything about my supposed birth plan had failed. Instead of forgoing the epidural, excruciating back labor made me decide to take one in the early stages. Instead of delivering naturally, I had an emergency c-section.
I clung to breastfeeding like a lifeline, but when the nurse thought I had a pulmonary embolism a few days after leaving the hospital, I almost had to give it up too.
In the days after family left, and my new baby and I were alone, I tried to cling to something stable. I had always clung to labels, but they were eluding me.
Student, worker, daughter, wife, and now mom.
I felt like I was failing miserably at the last two, which were both new to me. And because I felt unsuccessful in my roles, I didn’t think my life was worth anything.
To be quite honest, there were times when I thought my new child and husband would be better off without me.
Somewhere in my darkness I sent up a simple prayer: “Help.” And because God doesn’t care about the eloquence of our words but the heart behind them, I got my answer. Not in one lightning bolt of truth, but in a slow, constant rhythm.
Although I couldn’t see them at the time, his answers were like fingerprints on the story of my life.
Over time, He showed me I would never know who I was until I learned who He was. And the more I learned about Him, His love and unchanging character, the more I discovered my own unique identity.
I learned these different hats I wore—mom, wife, friend, employee—were meant to enhance the person I already was, but never define me.
Because if you hang your identity on a finite role, you will never discover who you are as an eternal being.
He created each one of us to leave an eternal mark. And while our families are a huge part of that, they are only one part. It is up to us to discover the distinct gifts He gave each of us, every one given to reflect His glory.
Do I love being a mom? Yes. Over time, I’ve grown to love it more and more.
But when my children are grown and it’s just me and my hubby, I will still be me. And if it takes me a lifetime to discover who that person is, it will be worth it.
Word of the Day:
“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.” 1 John 4:9 ESV
Prayer:
God, help me to remember that you alone define who I am. The roles of mother, wife, friend and writer help shape the unique attributes you gave me and mold my character, but my identity always starts with you. I am a child of God and your creation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Author: Abby McDonald
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