Who Are You?

By: Emily Goss

When I was in college, I took a creative writing class. We were given the assignment of writing a piece called, “Who are You?”

“Well, that’s not vague at all,” I thought. I was secretly cringing because we would have to share our writing with the whole class.

I began writing, and it was much more complicated than I thought. I started listing all of my “roles:” daughter, sister, friend, student, and oh yeah, Christian. When it came time to share, I found myself feeling so self conscious and exposed, telling this class of strangers who I was. My list seemed to fall short. I was missing an essential element.

Fast forward ten years and not much has changed. The struggle with identity is real.

Everywhere you turn, questions of “Who are you?” stare you in the face. Profiles and “about me” bios on social media seem to have me scratching my head.  Please sum up who you are in 140 characters or less…

Who do you say you are? Who do you believe you are?

In recent years, the temptation has been for me to define myself as “Mom.” The role of a mom is most definitely all consuming and we are called “mom” some one hundred million times a day.  “Mom” is who I am to three sweet blessings.

However, I have to be careful not to let that become my sole identity. Just think about it this way, if a mom is who I am, then what happens when I’m an empty nester and I don’t have all of the “mom” responsibilities any more? Do I lose my identity?

Being a mom is something that I do and a calling I cherish, but it does not define me.

The same can be true for the title of “wife.” If I define myself as wife and find my identity in that title, what happens if the unthinkable happens, and I lose my husband? Then I lose who I am.

Our identity has to be built on something stronger than a title we possess. It must be built on a person. And that person is Jesus Christ.

My dad used to tell me before I would go out as a teenager, “Remember whose  you are.” He wasn’t referring to me being his daughter, he was emphasizing the importance of me remembering who I belong to. I am a daughter of the Most High God.  If I can remember whose I am, I will remember WHO I am.

I am a daughter of the King. “He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will.” Ephesians 1:5

I am a new creation in Him. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; The old has gone, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

I am righteous and holy. “And put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:24

When I see who I am in Christ, why would I want to take on a worldly title as my identity? He is so much more!

Lets make sure we cherish our calling as moms but are careful not to confuse it with our identity. Say it with me, “A mom is what I do and who I am to my kids, but it does not ultimately define me; only Jesus can do that.”

Word of the Day:
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)

Prayer:
Jesus, Thank you for the high calling of motherhood. Forgive me for placing too much weight at times on my role as a mom. Forgive me for making that my identity. Change my mindset to how you see me, God. May I not look to the world to tell me who I am when I already know whose I am. Thank you that I am a daughter of the King. Amen.

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