For example: In school I had labeled myself as Christian. Now I will be the first to admit that I did not do a good job representing Christ to my peers in high school, but it was still a label I attempted to own. This label in and of itself is not a bad thing, but it put certain pressures on me. I absolutely NEEDED to be perfect. Not only did I have to be a good student, but I had to be a perfect person and I felt that meant that everyone needed to like me in order for me to get to the point of effectively sharing Christ with them. Its a messed up theology, but give me a break I was little.
Another label that was put upon me in church, at school, and even in public was "chunky" or "fat". I actually had someone within the walls of the church tell me that I was fat and needed to lose weight or I wouldn't find a husband. YIKES!! Just imagine the impact that statement had on me. By the way I'm now very happily married for almost 3 months and my husband loves everything about me. Even though I am not perfect (GO GOD!!)
Those are just a couple of the label that were placed on me and they, even today, can have a huge impact upon my emotions, thoughts, and desires.
My favorite labels I've ever received were that of Daughter, Sister, Cousin, Friend, and now Wife. Now each one of these labels has a pressure that goes along with it, but they are also labels of love and acceptance. You see these labels don't and shouldn't put the pressure on me to be perfect, but to be loving, kind, and joyful!! Be labeled as a brother, sister, mom, dad, cousin, aunt, uncle, friend, husband, wife, lover, caregiver, encourager, etc. are all meant to be blessings. These labels scream beauty and relationship to me. They are without boundaries in the success you can have within them. I know I will always make my father (earthly and heavenly) proud. I know my mom will love me no matter what. Even my siblings will love and tolerate me despite how crazy I can be. I love these labels.
However, I do realize that not everyone feels the same about labels. For some daughter can equal fear, son brings about memories of disappointment, etc. There is so much brokenness in our world today, but we are blessed by a Creator who sees us all as beloved children despite what we have done and what labels have been placed upon us. AMAZING!!! How great it is to know the God that created everything we see will love us unconditionally. Literally unconditionally. No matter what you have done, said, or thought. The grace of God means you are no longer a convict, you are no longer broken, you are no longer stained. You are clean, beautiful and made new!! I never grow tired of that realization. Because I am blown away by the love, mercy, grace, kindness, patience, and joy of the Lord.
I may not know what labels you have placed on yourself or even the labels others or society has placed on you, but I do know to me you are a brother or sister and to God you are a beloved and treasured child. Your only label is LOVED!!
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16 (English Standard Version)
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:1-10 (English Standard Version)
