Journey to "ME".

I have begun the year of 2017 looking at my "hats" and how I wear each of them, some of them simultaneously.  Hats such as: daughter, sister, Christ follower, wife, mother, team member, leader and the list goes on.  It seemed appropriate, with New Year's resolutions, goal setting and all, that I spend the last few days doing my own personal check up.  

Something struck me as I read, organized and scrutinized, an odd little quote actually.  The quote was from Popeye; 

"I am what I am and that's all I am".  

I read that quote over and over.  Yes, "I am what I am", that I can agree with but the last part "and that's all I am"...that I am wrestling with.  Is that really all I am?  I think it depends on who or what you ask.  

I am a daughter.  I was born to Mike and Glenna Crowder in May of 1973.   I am their oldest daughter.  I am a sister, to their youngest daughter, Jackie.  I became a Christian at the age of thirteen, but not a true Follower until much later.  I became a wife, twice.  Mother twice not quite a third, as well as a step-mom.  So you see, I really "am what I am", but there is so much more.  

In the book by Max Lucado, "Just Like Jesus", there is a quote:

"God loves you just the way you are but He refuses to leave you that way.  He wants you to be just like Jesus".  

This by far is the most challenging part of who and what I am.  Not only am I to be all of the "hats" but (based on God's purpose and plan) I am to be each of those hats AND just like Jesus.

A daughter, just like Jesus would have me be.
A sister, just like Jesus would have me be.
A wife, just like Jesus would have me be.
A mother, just like Jesus would have me be.
and so on....

This raises the stakes significantly.  To use the Popeye cop-out "that's all I am", allows me to live and remain in mediocrity.  To live life ho-hum and so-so.  To add the proverbial "spinach" of "just like Jesus", that adds what I learned in a sermon, called the "dunamis". Dunamis is the Greek word for strength, power, ability.  It's where we get the word dynamite.  If you recall, once Popeye took in the spinach, he became full of strength and could take on any thing Brutus threw his way!   

I am all of the hats, but the greatest responsibility is to be each of those "just like Jesus".  Filled with His dunamis.  So, no, that's not all that I am, I....WE are so much MORE!  We were designed for so much more!  If we weren't then why do we have verses like:
John 10:10 - "The thief comes only to steal, to kill and to destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full."
Matthew 17:20 - "...Nothing will be impossible for you." 
Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all this, through Him who gives me strength."

This isn't to say that there are not days of trails, heartache, grieving tears of anguish.  By far no!  But in those times, I cling to the hope of the strength and power to come:
Psalm 121:2 - "My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."

So:  I am what I am and oh so much more!  I think Dr. Seuss coined it best: