Identity

Last night I posed my plea for our daughters to my sister.  While she has no daughter of her own, she's interacted with enough young girls in the church to join in my plea.  Here's her proposed solution:          Differentiating one's identity from one's surroundings, including one's parents, is a normal and healthy part of development.  However, in the church too often we point our adolescents in the wrong place in this question.  We make it about them when, strangely enough, it isn't ultimately about them.  Before our students can know who they are, they must first understand who Christ is.  Once they fully grasp the character of Jesus, there's no room to doubt who they are, for He is the one who perfectly defines them.

Further thoughts to mull over.  Where, You lead, LORD, as you teach us who You are and who we are in You, where You lead, we will follow.