Who I am . . .

As defined by my relationships, I am:

A daughter of Christ

A wife

A mom

A daughter

A sister

A friend

Over 10 years ago I was in college and I was single.  I attended a women's retreat with the ladies from my church and was one of only 3 in the room who weren't married with children.    The speaker at the retreat asked us to introduce ourselves and to define ourselves apart from our relationships.   Since I wasn't a wife or a mom it was relatively easy for me, but knew the other ladies were having a more difficult time.   I believe the speaker was trying to get us to think of who we are as individuals and not as our titles and roles define us. Fast forward several years.  I am now married and have two kids.  

Like many, I was glued to the TV for the past few days watching every possible moment of the miners being rescued from the mine in Chile. 

The only time I DIDN'T have the TV on the news was while I was sleeping and during a pre-planned trip to the zoo with my family, so I watched most of the miners emerge from the mine.  I watched these men emerge from their underground prison and greet their loved ones with tears running down my face.   I saw them embrace their wives, their moms, their children, their lovers and I cried.

After all 33 men and their rescuers were safely above ground I thought about why I was so drawn to this story.  Is it because I've been to Chile twice on missions trips and have friends there?  Is it because I bought into the media's sensationlism?  Is it because I value life and was thankful to see the lengths people are willing to go in order to save lives?   It could be, but I don't think that's really why I couldn't take my tear-filled eyes away from the TV for 24 hours . . .

I couldn't turn the TV off because I am a wife, a mom, a daughter, a sister, a friend . . . and I saw myself in the loved ones who were greeting their men after a long ordeal. 

Instead of seeking to define myself apart from my relationships, I have come to realize my relationships define me.  I would not be who I am if I weren't my husband's wife, my children's mom, my parents' daughter, my sister's sister or a friend of my friends.  These titles aren't roles I play . . . the people my titles represent are the silk God has used to weave together the tapestry of me.