Who I am...

I haven't written in a LONG time - mostly because I figure I have nothing to say of any weight. Today, however, I read an article that caused the random thoughts to start turning. It was an article about famous people who "came out of the closet." No, this isn't going to be a blog about that - but something a lot of them said struck a nerve. In the article, a lot of them said they had been spending time discovering "who they are." That of course, started me thinking about all the DNA/ancestry sites that are springing up so that people can discover "who they are." From this, comes today's random thoughts.

Now, I've seen all the commercials and thought that I'd like to know my ancestry. It sounds so cool to know where you're from! The father's day commercials made me want to buy a kit for my husband. Since both of my children are adopted, I've thought about purchasing a kit for them. My son's should REALLY be interesting - he's such a delightful mix of nationalities. But that's where it stops, with a thought. For one, I'm cheap and for two, I don't really trust the accuracy of these test, and for three, I'm not sure I want to share EVERYTHING with some company I don't know. But there's a greater reason. I already know who I am, and who they are. Each of us is a child of God.

My "past" is probably interesting, but it's just that - past. Maybe I'll discover I have a hero in my past - I can't claim anything from that. I didn't do it. Maybe I'll have a villain - again, not me.  Maybe I'll find out some pertinent medical history - but I am just too old to care. Besides, God tells me that "by His stripes" I am healed. That's medical history enough for me. 

As for discovering "who I am," - why? I'm but a blip on the screen of life, here today and gone tomorrow. I'm more concerned about discovering what God says about me and what He has for me to do while I'm here. There is value in understanding the past, but I cannot change it. All I have at my fingertips is today. What will I do with this day?

As for those trying to discover "who they are," I'm afraid many are looking in the wrong places. People will delight in telling you who you are, but very few have your best interest at heart. Their opinion changes according to how they feel about who THEY are! Nope, there's only One who is unchanging and that I trust to help me discover who I am and that is the one who made me. 

Perhaps you don't believe in the Creator (which makes me wonder how you stumbled across my blog since that's all I write about!) In any case, if you've read this far I'm going to add in a few verses about who God says we are. 

Genesis 1:27 (NIV)
So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

1 Peter 2:9-10 (MSG)
9-10 But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.

1 John 3:1-2 (NIV)

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ² Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Romans 8:1-2 (NIV)

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Ephesians 1:4 (MSG)

Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. 

And this one is my favorite!

Colossians 2:8-10

Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But that’s not the way of Christ. Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don’t need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything.

I could probably spend all day adding verses, but you get the idea. (You can even do a search on your own about all that God has to say about who you are!) The point is, it's not our past that tells us who we are - either distant past of ancestors or recent past of our own mistakes. It is in who God says we are that we will find our peace. 

I'm thankful for all who have gone before me. I am proud to be called the daughter of Howell and Victoria, but now it's up to me. What will I do with the time I have here? I am Donna, just Donna; and my past does not determine my future in Christ. No one will look back and say, "Wow, my ancestor was Donna!" That won't matter, but each day I spend encouraging others and pointing them to Christ, THAT will make a difference. 

I know I love and accept my own children for who they are, even when they make me crazy! If I, being a flawed human can love them, how much more can my heavenly Father love me? So who am I? Perhaps a better question would be "WHOSE am I?" Just a child of the King who is loved for who I am, faults and all. And that is enough.