Describe yourself.
Wife, mother, friend, daughter, sister, traveler, student, gardener, volunteer, Chief Master Sergeant, scrapbooker, author, blogger, retiree…the list goes on and on.
When someone asks me this question, I have a difficult time determining what information is being solicited. Mainly because there are plenty of titles that I can proudly use to describe myself.
But what if I could only choose two words?
Christian & Veteran.
The two titles that I am most proud of and the two titles that best define me. Probably the two titles that I have been most faithful to throughout my adult life.
On this last Veteran’s Day as an Active Duty member and during the last 25 years as a military member, I have had to lean on one particular verse that I found to be applicable to both of these titles.
Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 2 Timothy 2:3-4 (NIV)
It’s important to note that Paul was not advocating violence as a good soldier of Jesus, but rather he was advocating the merits of possessing the characteristics of a military member with well-defined bearing and discipline. The military member focuses on the orders of those above them, as well as the mission…rather than the details of distractions. Paul is encouraging the Christian to maintain a similar bearing, keeping in mind that the details of life will be cared for by our Father in Heaven, rather than becoming distracted from our mission to contribute to the Kingdom.
In my own life, it’s a beautiful reminder from God, through Paul, that I can be both a Christian and a Veteran. The training I received as a military member should assist me with translating focus and bearing into my walk with Christ. It’s a beautiful reminder that God’s titles for my life are ones He chose for me.
If I asked you to describe yourself with two titles…what two would you choose? How would they relate to God’s plan for you?
~Emily
Iron Porch 