It was so hard trying to choke back the tears that day.  My family and I were sharing our last worship service with our brothers and sisters at the El Reno Church of Christ.  We were moving away to pursue a new calling in the ministry.  My dear friend, Robyn Legg, the minister’s wife approached me.  I dreaded our goodbye; this small, precious women had taken me in, and taught me the ways of being a minister’s wife.  She grabbed my hand and placed a small piece of paper into my palms, and closed my shaking fingers around it.  She said, “I am awful at goodbyes, and can’t stand saying them, this is everything I wanted to tell you, remember these words always, your going to do just fine.”  She brought me in and gave me a big hug, squeezed my hands with hers and turned to leave.  As she walked away, I unclenched my hands and gazed down at the little piece of paper that read:

“Ash,
Know who you are
Know who you’re trying to please
Know what you’re driving for
Robyn”

Hot, wet tears streaked down my cheeks as I digested the words and took pleasure in the elegant way she signed her name.  I have come back to this little piece of paper often to re-evaluate my purpose as a Christian, and to refresh myself with the simple truth that she gave me that day.

“Know who you are”

I am a Christian, bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20).  I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2:10).  I am a woman, fabricated within my mother’s womb to become a tender, submissive wife, and patient mother. (Psalms 139:13-14, 1 Peter 3:1, Psalms 127:3)  I am the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit who intercedes for me in my weaknesses, and keeps the word of the Father alive in my heart (Romans 8:26).  I am a sinner (Romans 3:23).

“Know who you’re trying to please”

I belong to the great I AM, to the Creator of all things (Genesis 1-2).  I serve a risen Savior, being justified through his blood (Romans 5:9).  I am to love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37).

“Know what you’re driving for”

I run, not with uncertainty, thus I fight (1 Corinthians 9:26) for the prize that has been given to me. It is my duty, out of love for my Savior, to confess Jesus’ name before men (Matthew 10:32).  I work to raise my children up in the Lord (Proverbs 22:6) so that they may know Him and His love. I know that my citizenship is in heaven, and I will be transformed by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself (Philippians 3:20-21).

Today, ask yourself, “Who am I?  Who am I pleasing?  What am I driving for?”  Are you searching for the answers to these questions within yourself, or are you searching for the truths revealed to us in the word?  As the days have passed since receiving this note, my answers continue to transform and mature, but always serve as a reminder to seek these answers in the word. Take the time today to search yourself, to meditate on the word, and to define who you are and what you are striving for.