What defines you?

 We recently visited my car. 

 Ok, we were seeing our kids and grandkids, but our older son has my old car and, well, I miss it (and it’s a funny statement).

 The reality is, I did love that car, but my family comes before everything else.  I had owned my car for 16 years, but when our son’s vehicle was totaled in an accident, they needed a vehicle and I gave mine up and got a new one.

 When I changed cars people I didn’t even know commented on it.  Two bank tellers, a pharmacist and a police officer all asked me if I had gotten a new car.  Isn’t that funny?  I suppose I should be honored that they recognized me without my yellow car.  The new one is blue, but… that doesn’t change who I am.  I am not my car.  My car does not determine who I am.

 So many people get wrapped up in what they think defines them, in how people identify them.  For instance, some people identify themselves by their:

·         Job

·         Clothes

·         Coffee

·         Spouse

·         School

·         Vehicle

·         House

·         Sports

·         Political affiliation

·         And more

 I have a news flash for you… you are not what you (fill in the blank). 

What you own, what you do, how well you do it, who you know… these are all things outside of yourself.  They are not you.  You are a person who has or enjoys these things, but who you are is not determined by things.

 Who you are is determined by your beliefs, thoughts, and actions… by your morals and values.  These are the things that define you.

 You can have the most awesome car, so cool that everyone recognizes it and knows it is you when you drive by, but if you are a foul-mouthed bully people will identify you as such.  They might say, “There goes that jerk in the yellow car.”  But they are identifying you as a jerk first.

 You could drive the oldest piece of junk in town but be a kind person who assists others whenever they ask.  People will probably say, “There goes so&so” when you drive by, with no mention of the vehicle you drive.

 There is a difference.

 For me, I know I am fearfully and wonderfully made, a child of God, and I will stand on that Rock all day long.

 What defines you?

*Pam Horton is a Board Certified Advanced Christian Life Coach.