I've been stripped buck naked. Now what?

Last night I was sitting on my front porch thinking. The family was gone for the evening and I wasn't feeling well enough to join them so I had some quiet time to contemplate things.

I thought about the things that I used to identify myself with and I realized something. We all identify ourselves with something. It might be a persons car, or their singing, their writing, their looks, their athletic abilities. They might be a talented speaker or artist.



For me, I felt like I could do anything if I wanted or tried hard enough. I loved to run and push myself in exercising and running. I loved to do things for others. Take people meals, clean for them, do their yard work, etc. I could clean the house, can and process food, do laundry, and ironing all in a days work. I took pride in being a hard worker. It is how I was raised. My identity was in a body that could run forever.

Take those things we identify ourselves with away and what are you left with? You've two choices really. Those who can't get past where they'd been and all they can talk about is what they used to be like, how it used to be, etc. and they become angry and bitter or those who move on and I don't know. Create a new identity? Or maybe those people who despite being stripped down had more to them so that when their "identity" was taken away they are still wonderful to be around because they know that the identity the world associated with them was just that. Something of this world and they know who they are. Children of God. What better identity could you have?

My dad told me once that fancy cars get rust, sexy bodies wrinkle and sag, it is the things of this world that you take with you to the next that matters. The relationships that we build here. The families that we have. Being famous or popular here on earth, having tons of money and having expensive things means nothing. Strip that all away as we will be in the next life and then what?

So, as I sat there last night contemplating who I am now that I've had my identity stripped away so to speak I realized it doesn't matter because underneath it all I'm who I've always been. A daughter of God.



Now, remind me of this the next time I'm wallowing in self pity when the desire to go running is over powering and my body won't let me and don't be offended if I tell you to stick it in your ear......it's the identity crisis talking.