How do you define yourself?  Tell me a bit about you. 

Life is full of labels.  I've pondering the use of labels, and what place they have in my life.  Some labels are good.  They are labels that I am proud to wear.  Labels that state that I am a child of God.  But, there seems to be an excessive amount of time spent on other labels.  Labels that aren't about our Lord, or our Lord's view of us, but are, in essence, labels that are more important to the world...or in building ourselves up. "I don't do that..." or "I only do that..." or "I'm a *inset own phrase* mom."

Before I go farther, I know that as a society we need labels in order to define ourselves. How else do I inform others that we homeschool?  Or that I stay at home?  Or that my dh is a cancer "survivor?"  We use them as descriptors and to explain our convictions.  But, what I am concerned with is when these convictions surpass who we are in Christ.  For those times when we will fight for a personal conviction yet we are not operating with the fruits of the Spirit.  You know what I mean.  There have been numerous debates on message boards, email loops, in the world etc...about certain issues.  I've seen them become venemous and hostile.  Seeking knowledge is no longer present.  It becomes a need to be right, to press one's convictions and beliefs onto another.  We could start a debate here over them.  Homeschooling.  Vaccines.  Diapering practices.  Parenting practices.  Churches.  Type of worship. Birthing preferences. Homeschool methods.  Books.  Television.  Health care.... The list could go on and on and on.  What I've seen is that too often personal conviction starts to be presented as dogma. 

Life on this earth is ultimately about living for Christ.  For spreading His message, and being salt.  When I fall prey into trying to fit into a particular identity (besides Him) I can begin to allow a sort of self-righteousness to cloud my thinking and interactions with others.  However, when I frame everything through Christ, then I can be firm in my personal convictions without feeling the need to be threatened and hostile towards others who hold ones different than my own.  Now, please know that I am talking about issues that are NOT clearly defined as right or wrong in the Scriptures.  I would die for Christ.  Know that.  Jesus is God is an absolute truth.  There is no debate in that statement.  Jesus died for my sins.  Another truth.  Non-debatable.  At all.  That is a label, an identity that I proudly wear.  These are not the types of labels with which I am referring to.

 You see, what has happened to me is that when I give earthly labels too much power and then when I don't "fulfill" them to the expectations that I've set then I can get down on myself.  Discouraged.   I'm not fulfilling the parameters set out in that role. When I live my life, again looking through the lens of Christ, then I am free of the earthly expectations of that label.  The Scriptures are full of guidelines and wisdom.  My definition for self needs to again be matched up with the truth fond in the Bible.

Of course, I know that there is no way to get away from labels.  How else would we relate?  This post isn't really about the need to abolish living by labels, but rather serves as a reminder to not allow the labels to trump defining ourselves as children of Christ.  And perhaps to serve as a gentle reminder to remember that others out there, whose opinion on some issues vary with your own, are people just like you.  We all need to remember to respond with grace and understanding.  Seeking first to understand.  Discussion about topics is a great thing.  That is where I learn!  But I learn best when I seek to understand someone else's opinion and where I feel that they are doing the same.  Otherwise my words are guarded, tempered, afraid of the response. And perhaps that fear is because I am giving too much power to other's words and not enough confidence in my self and the life the Lord has for me.  However, a healthy dialogue is an excellent tool in learning.  And I appreciate looking at many views and choices.  Ultimately, I believe that each family is responsible for their family's choices.  And I respect that.

I don't even know if this makes much sense, it has just been on my heart lately.  All that I wrote was written in love.

On a different note, if anyone knows of a good sight to stream music for my blog I'd appreciate the recommendation.  SonicSpot went out of business.  And, another request, is if you'd pray for me with regards to my allergies.  There are pretty intense right now.  I know the season will end, but sometimes in the midst of an allergy attack it feels a bit hopeless.   They do serve as a reminder to the faithfulness of God!  He is good and will work through anything.  Even in the midst of a storm He is there, and it will end!

Rachel