Theme: Identity
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I find myself in a place where I am struggling with
identity.
Is my identity found in being a stay-at-home mom? More
specifically yet, a mom of children with special needs? The thing is, I don’t enjoy
most of what my “job description” entails. I don’t like to cook, I don’t like
to plan meals, I don’t like to go grocery shopping, I don’t like to do dishes.
I don’t like to do laundry, fold clothes or put them away. I don’t like to make
beds, sweep floors, clean the bathroom. I do these things as chores, because I
have to. There is no joy in that for me. I know, I know, I am supposed to do
all things as if I was doing them for the Lord. Well, I am being honest, this
is a struggle and I just don’t like it.
Oh I love my kids. They bring me great joy! I love to see
their smiling faces and their personalities shining through. I often find
myself staring at Nichole with a puppy face and dreamy eyes in awe of this
little person that I get to call my daughter. Crazy how scared I was about Down
syndrome! Ellie is just amazing and the sky is her limit, really. And then Nina
who just keeps showing me what determination and courage really look like. What
a blessing! But that has nothing to do with me and my identity, that joy is
find purely in their own beings, aside from myself.
Is my identity found in being a writer? Oh I hope not because
I am not about to sign the next great book contract and I do not have articles
flying left and right. My little blog is yet another example that I am not
where I would like to be when it comes to my writing dreams. I have no niche.
I know my identity is found in Christ, I know who I belong
to and how He sees me. But although I know this truth I am often stuck on being a mom and doing some writing.
So who am I? I am in the process of discovering myself.
Stop
(Don't forget to stop by and read the beautiful devotional blog post from Deidra: The Address)
I think it is very natural to look to our roles to find our identity. I am a Mother, a Wife, etc. They are things I do, but not who I am. They do not define me. But what sets me apart is how I navigate the world. Who I am behind the closed doors, where no one can see me but Jesus. What sets you apart is your heart, your willingness to take on the chores you dislike, surrendering to God's plan as a Mother, your fortitude.
ReplyDeleteChristy
A Heartening Life
Christy,
DeleteThank you for your beautiful words. You are absolutely right!
"But what sets me apart is how I navigate the world. Who I am behind the closed doors, where no one can see me but Jesus."
I love that, and it is a great reminder.
This is SO my experience! You said it well and you said it true. In process right with you...
ReplyDeleteI could relate to so much of this. xo
ReplyDeleteI just found you through Gypsy Mama, but I like your blog so far. I can definitely relate. I actually didn't do last week's 5 minute Friday (I had just started doing it a week before!) because I kept thinking that I couldn't locate my identity in the face of all the chores and things I was doing. It's so hard to separate who I am from what I do. And even though they are related, it feels like such an important distinction.
ReplyDeleteI feel exactly the same way about housekeeping, cooking and shopping. Today was supposed to be "cleaning day." Huh, all I did was clean up pee off the floor and try to ignore the rest of the dirt.