A rare moment to myself popped into my morning. I ignored the pile of dishes and instead made a hot breakfast, spent some time in the Word, and now am touching base with you.
I can hardly believe it's October. Today the kids took their school pictures and what is already a rushed morning was made moreso by my daughters insistence to see a photo of herself with 8 different headbands before picking. In hindsight maybe I should have done that the night before?
The dynamic dye duo, Grandma and Uncle Luke are busy working on halloween costumes, Josh and I are gearing up for our first trip away from the older two kiddos in a long time, I'm signed up for what seems like a hundred things at school between now and the end of the year. It seems wrong to see Home Depot adorned in Christmas already and yet we too are scheduling Christmas party dates.
This week I always get a text from my dear friend Leah wishing me a happy birthday month and reminding me that soon I will be another year older. She is so fun. I'll be 38 in a few weeks and the truth is that seems a rather robust number and it seems that even at this ripe old age I'm still coming to terms with who I am.
Funny, I am constantly whispering in my kids ears about their value. Often telling them how God knit them together so specifically - their physical features, their personalities, their gifts and talents, what makes them excited and how they think. I tell them how God spent much time thinking through their puzzle before putting all the pieces together with the purpose of being used for Him.
It struck me the other day that I need to apply my own words to myself. Growing up in a predominately Asian American community, I think there was an unspoken value placed on conforming, blending in, not being too loud, too quiet, too ______ of anything. But I am my mother's daughter and passionate and intense are adjectives that certainly describe me. I think I have been subconsciously dampening who I was to fit in.
I told Josh the other night that I'm done with that.
God created me for His purposes. It's time to step into who He made so His plans can be fulfilled through me. Case in point, I led worship recently and boy had you been there you would have been eye wide wondering who that was up there. =) But guys, I was myself! Christ in me!
Now I'm not saying I have carte blanche to do as I please. There is still sin in this world. All things must be done in love and with wisdom. But where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom - and I am feeling free.
Are you free?
