The inspiration for my "attempt" at blogging is my older daughter, Lindsay. Please visit her blog: http://dlezr.blogspot.com. She posted that she was having a bit of an adjustment to her new last name. She got married on St. Patrick's day this year and changed her last name from Whetstine to Hinkle. I was compelled to respond to her post and was led to a page to do so. In so doing, I was asked to set up a blog name and title. I was caught by surprise in having to do this, but proceeded to follow the directions. Blog title? What? I'm not ready for thaaaat! I just want to leave a comment in response to my daughter's post about changing her last name! Well, I hurriedly typed Woman of Faith, with not much thought at all given to this question. I, then, proceeded to type my comment about my own adjusting to changing my last name from McKee to Whetstine. I told her that my identity, as I knew it after I was newly married, was deeply rooted in my McKee"ness," and Whetstine felt like trying on a pair of new leather shoes that had not been broken in yet. Almost immediately after publishing my comment, I had an epiphany! I realized my identity was no longer in my family of origin or in my family I created with my husband, Alan. Today, I know who I am! I am a child of God -- A WOMAN OF FAITH! It hit me like a ton of bricks right between the eyes! Even after I wrote that my identity was deeply rooted in my family of origin, I suddenly realized that at my core I am a woman of faith first! My identity is in Jesus Christ now! A sense of peace and joy came over me that took me, quite, by surprise. A new found confidence came over and through me as I realized what had just happened. It felt like fitting the last puzzle piece into its place to complete the beautiful picture that had been labored over for hours and hours. I will never forget my roots in my original family, nor would I ever want to. But after years of agonizing over what I should do with my life and what other people think of me, I was given clarity and closure! I am grateful for the opportunity of sharing this blessing in my life and for the endless opportunities God puts in our path to reveal Himself to us each day.
Do you know WHOSE you are?
Blessings
