Random Meeting by Susan L.

  I bumped into a woman who used to come to writer's group. We had a nice chat in the middle of a crowded store. She shared how the Lord was helping her find out who she was. It has me wondering if this is something fifty to sixty year olds do as part of life's journey.
  If we have children, they hopefully are moving on in their own lives by this time. Parent, mother, father, provider, and a whole slew of other identifiers become obsolete. It leaves a great, gaping hole where once they were used to identify ourselves.
  These labels only identify what we do, they don't get down to the nitty-gritty truth of our personhood. That takes some often heart wrenching exploration.
  I say that because we need to unlearn much of who we think we are in order to make room for new ideas and understandings.
  Hurt builds lies.
  We live in a world of hurt.
  Hurting people hurt others.
  In our own brokenness, we pass our hurts and misunderstandings to the next generation. Our worldly "truths" make sure that happens. We know who is the author of those. It serves the devils interest to destroy God's truth.
  It is so easy to believe the negative about ourselves. God will forgive us for doing that, if we ask.
  Here's the challenge: to believe in the good things about ourselves. To learn how to celebrate and be thankful for the gifts the Lord has given us.
  Here's another challenge: can you list ten things you like about yourself?
  What's the old saying? If we can't love ourselves, God help our neighbour!
  "But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk." 1 Cor 7:17