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When my family and I were traveling to Alaska we made our way through TSA and had to show both our passports and driver’s license to the agent.  And in all my years traveling as an adult, I was never asked –

“Who are you?”

You see, my driver’s license has me as Loretta (maiden name) Schoen, however, my passport has me as Loretta (middle name) Schoen.

I nervously stumbled over my explanation all the while wondering whether I would be joining my family in Alaska or remaining in Florida.  The agent continued to look at both my identifications and me with a sternness that made me feel like I was back in Catholic school with the Franciscan nuns.  Finally after what seemed like hours, she let me go through to join my family with a stern warning that I should make my driver’s license and passport match if I were to continue traveling.

It got me to thinking –

Who am I?  Am I a sum of who I have been, all the things that have happened to me – whether personal or medical?  Who is Loretta Schoen?  Who is Loretta (maiden name) Schoen-daughter of Gloria and Mario, sister to my two brothers, cousin to a myriad of 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd cousins.  Who is Loretta (middle name) Schoen – the wife of Thad, mother of Francesca, mother-in-law of Richard and Nana to Ryker and Aiden.  Am I the sum of what has happened to me?  Am I no better than all the ailments my body now sports in pain and frustration?

I believe that things happen for a reason, a season and that everything can be taken as bad but more often than not there is a kernel of something positive to be derived from the difficult events in our lives.  Perhaps it makes us more accepting and less judgmental, softer and not harder, stronger not weaker and wiser rather than  reckless. The choice is ours to make.  Life’s trials, while testing our faith can be key to making us mature and complete.  Keeping our focus on God is key.  So I ask –

Who I am and who are you?

• A child of God – John 1:12 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in His name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
• Chosen – John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”
• Free – 2Corinthians 5:18-19 – “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and give us the ministry of reconciliation…
• A New Creation – 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
• Made for a good purpose – Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
• A light to the world – 2 Corinthians 4:16 – “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness.’ Has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
• Evidence of Christ on Earth – 2 Corinthians 2:14 “But thanks be to God who in Christ leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.”

Who are you?  How do you describe yourself?  Can you see yourself as all the above?  What would it take for you to accept God’s unconditional love and be the light from which God can be seen?  The choice is yours.  What choice will you make?

The TSA agent’s question “Who am I?” made me realize that no matter what this life throws at me or my physical body; which by the way is really hurting from our travels, I am not defined by those things.  I am defined by who I choose to be and who has chosen me.

Who am I?  I am a child of God, chosen, forgiven, adopted and loved.  And you are too.

 

Thank you for reading my post.  If you have found it encouraging please consider liking, commenting or sharing it.  Feel free to even re-blog – may these words take flight!

I have additional insights I’d love to share with you found in the pages of my debut book: Surviving Medical Mayhem – Laughing When It Hurts.  To order a copy or learn more go to my website at www.lorettaschoen.com

Blessings for Health & Wellness.