It is a very common occurrence.
You meet someone and one of the first questions you ask is, “What do you do?”
This happens every day, all day long.
It is a simple question, but the answer can be complicated. It holds within it the power to dictate how we see ourselves, where our identity is found, and whether we feel that what we do in this life as important or not.
Before I became a mother, the answer to this question was very easy for me: I am an emergency room nurse. I loved the responses I got, ranging from authentic surprise to, “Oh, I could never do that! It takes a special person.”
I normally just laughed, or nodded and smiled, but deep down I really did find a lot of worth in what I did. I was that special person, and I prided myself on that; I did a job that not everyone could do.
THEN, Ford was born and my whole world changed.
I wasn’t just a nurse anymore… I was a mom.
Often times when we prioritize the important aspects of our lives, we always say that family should (or does) come before work, but if I am being honest, at that point in my life, my job was coming in before my family did.
Then, when Ford was born, it was as if my view of the world and how everything works shifted. It wasn’t a small shift; it was an earthquake-sized shift.
I didn’t care if I ever walked into the hospital again.
My calling had changed.
My identity had changed.
Everything changed.
.
As many of you know, our little family made a cross-country move last April and one of the main reasons we decided to do this was so I could be a stay-at-home-mom to our son. I have been known as a SAHM for 9 months now and it is only just now starting to sink in.
When people ask me what I do, I falter.
I say that I used to be an Emergency Room nurse, but now I am just a Stay-at-home-mom.
Wow.
I used to be cool, but now I’m not. That’s what it sounds like I am saying.
I caught myself wondering, “Is this really true? Is this how I feel about myself?”
And then I feel guilt because I chose this. I wanted this. I STILL want this.
Oh, to be a woman and to be passionate.
Is it possible to only be known as one thing?
.
I came across this passage recently in The Broken Way by Ann Voskamp and it spoke truth to my soul. I’m praying that wherever you are, this connects with you as well.
“When your identity is in Christ, your identity is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Criticism can’t change it. Failing can’t shake it. Lists can’t determine it. When your identity is in the Rock, your identity is rock-solid. As long as God is for you, it doesn’t matter what mountain rises ahead of you. You aren’t your yesterday, you aren’t your messes, you aren’t your failures, you aren’t your brokenness. You are brave enough for today, because He is. You are strong enough for what’s coming, because He is. And you are enough for all that is, because He always is.”
My true identity is found in being a daughter of the King, in being a follower of Christ.
Everything else pales.
This identity will never change, regardless of my circumstances, the titles I give myself and the career paths I choose.
I just need to constantly remind myself of this fact and then perhaps I will rejoice in the ability to play play-doh for the 5th time today ❤
Coast x Coast Motherhood 