Your identity is “the state of having unique identifying characteristics held by no other person or thing.” People have said to me that women should not find their identity in motherhood, but only in Christ. Will you please forgive me if I challenge that statement? Yes, I believe that every born again Christian has their identity in Christ. I live my life by the truth of Colossians 1:27: “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
However, that fact that Christ dwells in us and is our life is not negated by our gender. God is the One who created the genders and each season of life. A baby’s identity is that it is a baby, hopefully with fat chubby cheeks and roly poly thighs and arms--the only time we drool over being fat! A child’s identity is in being a child. We put up with their childishness, enjoying their free, innocent, and uninhibited ways.
We expect a male to walk in the identity of a male--showing strength and offering protection to women and children. We expect fathers to have the identity of a father and take the responsibility of providing a home, embracing and providing for children, and being the leader in the family.
What about the mother? To say we do not have an identity as a mother is to go against everything God says. It goes against the way He created us. God created women with a womb and breasts to embrace, nurture, and nourish life. Being female and to embrace the way God created us is our true identity. To resist motherhood and embracing children and to oppose the great career of homemaking is to deny the identity God mandated at the very beginning of creation (Genesis 3:20; Psalm 113:9; and Titus 2:4, 5).
You do not negate your identity as a mother because of your identity in Christ. Rather, because Christ indwells you, your motherhood is enhanced, intensified, and abundantly more joyful, overcoming, and glorious! When Christ dwells in you, He changes how you think and everything you do, but He doesn’t take away your identity of motherhood, because He gave it to you in the first place!
Be encouraged.
Nancy Campbell
The first home was called the Garden of Eden and was the prototype of all homes to come. In the Hebrew Eden means “delight” and this is God’s intention for our homes. We mothers set the tone for our homes and it is our mandate to make them a delight--a delight for our husbands, all our children, and all who come into our homes.
Some houses try to hide the fact
Dear manager of the home, beloved of the Lord,
Who helps to cheer the daily round?
Treasure have I!
“As is the mother, so is the daughter” (Ezekiel 16:44). Isn’t this a challenging statement? Our children become like us. They watch us all day long. If we are sour and miserable, always complaining and sighing, then expect whining children! If we keep a smile on our face and praise the Lord, even in the midst of difficulties, our children learn this behavior also.
Christ has no hands but our hands to do His work today;
As I read God’s Word I notice a different picture than what see in many families in the body of Christ today. It seems that the Biblical picture is too old-fashioned for modern believers today. Too archaic. Too straightjacket. And yet it is the way of power. It is the way of obedience. It is the way God planned for His people. But then again, many people think they know better than God, don’t they?
I don’t know about you, but when raising my children I was not content for the status quo. Although our children have all grown and have all done amazing things in this life (and they will yet do greater things), I was not really so much interested in what fêtes they would accomplish, but only that they would have a consuming passion for God and His kingdom. This was my passion that they would have this passion!
Josiah and Shelby who will be married 16th October.
My granddaughter, Meadow and Kendall Hall. They will be married on the 10th September.
I have inundated you with a number of family pictures the last few days, which I rarely do. However, I thought I'd catch you up with a little family news and two coming family weddings. How we love weddings!
After staying for a week to rest after giving birth this sweet little family return to their home. Selah and her husband, Samuel with their three little ones: Sammy, Eureka, and newborn Kyrah Joy. Selah and Samuel are wonderful parents and are also in the process of adopting three children from Liberia (from where they originally come). These are children of family members who have passed away, one through Ebola. The hard part is the long wait to get these children. Selah is Serene's oldest daughter.
Three of our grandsons--Cedar Allison, Arrow Johnson, and Vision Allison.
Here is another one of our sweet little great-granddaughters. Christiana with Liliana, her second daughter. Christiana is Serene's daughter-in-law.
Have you ever seen such a precious father/daughter picture? Jack Simpson (Rashida's husband) with their little daughter, Ezzie (our great-granddaughter). Rashida is Evangeline's daughter.
An old picture of Wesley, our eldest son with Stephen and Evangeline (the twins) who turned 51 this last week! Where do the years go? It seems like yesterday.
Yesterday our dog had 10 puppies! She kept on popping them out all day. We thought she was finished at seven, then eight, and then later we found nine and ten! Can you count them? I am amazed at how easily animals give birth and how instinctively and lovingly they mother. Goldie hasn't stopped licking and feeding them and is so content to let them nurse constantly.