What defines us?

We have been a million things in life. We have borne the weight of a hundred responsibilities and have played various roles to everyone's satisfaction. We have allowed ourselves to be the puppets of society, the voiceless slaves of opinion and expectation.

If people had titles written across their forehead I have no doubt that each person would be covered without space or gap. Every man is subject to the words which are uttered in association with him. Every person is bound by the perception of their peers. Be it the 16-year-old girl trying to find herself out, or the 86 year old woman at the dusk of her life, we all conform subconsciously to our predetermined frames. We shrink ourselves for fear of variation and thus we twist and writhe to keep with the large expectations heaped upon us. We fear questioning this system because we do not wish to be regarded as disappointments, all the while we function as our own worst critics.

See I myself have a thousand facades. I pride myself on some titles and cringe at the mention of some of my others. I work hard to maintain a polished image and make sure that I never waver from the box I am assigned. I do this with feigned contentment all the while I suffer in turmoil. For how can I know the depths of my identity if I am relentlessly forced to simply tread its surface. My soul tells me there is more but my mind tells me I haven't time for such a lengthy journey. I'm too busy. Too busy cultivating the seeds of their perception to plant the seeds of inherent truth.

But one day it came to me as it does to everyone that I haven't any obligation to this world's opinions. It wasn't that this thought sprung new in my mind but more that the light seemed to favor it that day. My mind pursued it and my heart held onto it, for any sign of truth meant freedom from a deceptive prison. I journeyed on the path expecting endless complications and came at last to find a profound treasure. A simple definition with no strings attached. I am a child of the King of Kings, and that is an identity which lies secure in His faithful hands. So I have no need to strive for some grand label because the greatest title is already mine. If you struggle to sift through your various roles be assured that there is no need, the only One with a right to define you has already given you the greatest name. He calls you his own and showers you with his love.