As a Man Thinks…
Who are you… really? When someone asks who you are, what do you say?
“Hi everyone! It’s your girl Julie, and I’m back with another segment of ‘Salty & Lit.’” That’s how I’ve introduced myself in the past and continue to do so, but things changed. I’ve gotten older, and I’m not the same Julie I was when I first started “Salty & Lit.” One, I grew a lot. I learned discipline is necessary for you, and I learned to love better, but one of the things I’ve learned is my identity (one, it is to be rooted in Christ alone).
When I introduce myself to others outside of this platform, I often say, “Hi” or “Good evening, my name is Julie. I’m a teacher, and I’m glad that you’re here,” but that doesn’t really mean people know who I am. I let them know a specific part of me (my name and my profession), but that doesn’t mean I let them into the inward parts of me.
One thing I can share is I’m a daughter of a King (God), as well as the daughter of my parents. When you think of yourself as that (a daughter), you should consider what it means to be a daughter. What it means to be loved. In the past, I had a misconstrued understanding of love, which drove the way I showed up, but God has been working on me in that. God let me know I’m someone who loves (hard), and it’s important to discern when to give love and when to give distance. I also love to learn (catch me on Google finding random information!), but a thing I really love is making space. I love making space for others to learn and grow and fostering a space where others feel they belong.
It’s funny because in the classroom, I struggle with doing that, yet God is showing me that my calling remains the same. Wherever I go, I make space for others to be comfortable being themselves. For me, that’s what “Salty & Lit” is about: showing up where God wants you to be, sharing God’s truth in that specific space. It’s not easy because people pleasing can have you back down from what God calls you to be, but being lights, we shine bright regardless of our fears. People recognize there’s something different in us, even when we try to cower.
So my question for you is this: Who has God created you to be? Who has God called you to be? What would it look like to begin living out the life that God called you to live today?
Let’s pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, You are good and kind. Thank You for writing and teaching me Your truth (that I am loved, salty, and lit). I pray that everyone who reads this experiences and learns their true identity in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
