Lesson #1 - I Know Who I Am

I think it's kind of funny...one of the things that we seem to forget as we get older is who we are. Or maybe we don't forget...maybe we just change or try to change or become someone different, new. But does who we really are, ever change?

Little kids have it down. They know exactly who they are. Let me give you an example: (bear with me those of you who have read my other blog because this experience is on their as well...but it illustrates my point.) I was upstairs working when Rylen (my 3 year old) came to me with a request. "Mommmm" came the call. "What dear?" I replied. This answer totally threw off the whole request because the next thing I knew I was being severly chastised, "I'm not a dear." "You're my dear" I said nonchalantly. "No," he argued, "I'm not a dear." Then I clued in...thinking he's probably thinking deer (like Bambi), I proceeded to push the envelope..."Oh, are you my dog?" I said. "NO!" "Are you my monkey?" "NO!!" "Are you my shark?" "NOOOOO!!!" Enough was enough, his final reply was, "I'm your Rylen."

Rylen is Rylen...that's who he is and he knows it. Occassionally we'll call Bright by Rylen's nickname (Guyvie...don't ask why we call him that, we just do), and Rylen's reaction is always the same. "He's not your Guyvie...I'm your Guyvie. He's the baby." He's right! He has his own identity. He knows exactly who he is. If I can do my mommy job right that will never change.

The same holds true for each of us. We each have a special, specific identity. We can change aspects of who we are. We will grow. We can get a "new" look. We can develop new talents, habits, etc and, we can gain knowledge, but one thing remains constant: We are children of God. What else could be more important than knowing who we are? I am Cassie. I'm a daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend, but more importantly I am a child of God. Knowing this affects every other decision in my life and hopefully makes me better at everything that I do.

I'm glad my kids have a good understanding of who they are. I'm sure that as they get older their knowledge will be challenged. People will try to change who they are, or try to convince them to do things that will go against who they are. I will continue to drill into their minds the same simple truth that small children inherently seem to know..."I am a child of God," and hopefully when turbulent time arise (as they always do) they will have this to fall back on.