I think I may be having an identity crisis!  Sometimes I’m not sure who I am.  At first I was “Brenda and Foster’s daughter”, and then I was “Ralph and Naomi’s sister”.  Once I became “Mrs. Mark Hathaway”, I was “Mark’s wife”.  It didn’t take long to move onto “Kenny/Sarah/Kaitlyn’s mother”.  About a year and a half ago, I added 2 new identities:  “Kelly’s mother-in-law” and “Sean and Eric’s Peemaw”!  🙂  There are many other titles that I’ve been given but I’ll leave those alone.  🙂

Do you ever feel as though people have forgotten just who you are?  Recently, while I was home in Peru (Maine), a man asked me “Aren’t you Naomi’s sister?”  Yes, I am Naomi’s sister.  Being Naomi’s sister wasn’t always easy.  Although Naomi was 4 years younger than me, she was the one I looked up to.  I would only sleep at my Grammy Brown’s house if Naomi went with me!  I didn’t like going to our “den” out behind our house unless Naomi was there to banish all the creepy things out in the woods!!  Naomi and I were alike in some ways but very different in other ways: Naomi was a member of the National Honor Society; I was involved in FHA (Future Homemakers of America.  Yeah, I was cool even back in High School).  Naomi worked hard for her English Degree, I received my “MRS.” degree!  🙂  Naomi was very organized, I had to look around to find my laptop to write this post!  🙂  Naomi could play the piano, me…I play the cd player!  Naomi canned her own food, I can use a can opener like no one else!! 

Now, please don’t think I’m bitter.  Naomi was my best friend growing up and even into our adult life (aside from Mark, of course).  I feel blessed that I am Naomi’s sister.  She was (and still is) such a blessing to me and to so many other people.  And “Naomi’s sister” can’t wait to see her again.

All this rambling to say:  sometimes I can easily feel as though I have no identity of my own.  I love all of my titles listed above but I think, this past year, the title that has meant the most to me is this one: “Daughter of the King”!  I have a heavenly father that has allowed me to climb up onto His lap when my world has come crashing down.  He has put His arms around me when I cried to Him “I don’t understand what you are doing!!!  How is this the plan you have for 5 children?!?  What good can possibly come out of this tragedy?!”  My Father is patient and loving! 

Because of what Christ did on that cross 2,000+ years ago, I am told “At one time we (Terry!) too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures… But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,  so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:3-8)  I am an heir with Christ!!  How cool is that!? 

Gotta go…Mark’s wife has to iron something for him to wear to work!   🙂