Who Am I?

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— John 1:12 NIV

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. 1 John 3:1 (a) ESV

Sometimes I bubble along in life happily pursuing my various interests and forgetting that what I DO is not who I AM. A prime example is hiking. I love hiking. When hiking, I love the beauty I see, the feeling of closeness to God, and the time with friends on the trail. I l also love the feeling of my body working to take me places and noticing small things along the path.  Sometimes, I get so caught up in my interest of hiking that I forget what I do doesn't define who I am, so when meeting new people, I often say that I am a hiker.

From time to time, God so graciously reminds me of who I REALLY am, of my true identity.   In late 2025, He allowed my lack of adequate stretching before and after hikes, and ignoring signs of foot pain, to sideline me from hiking and most outdoor activities for a time. That challenging season was a powerful reminder of who I really am.  You see, hiking is a wonderful part of my life that enriches my life in so many ways, but it’s something that I do, not who I am.

In that season of slow healing, God reminded me to refocus my identity in Him. I may hike for joy, but I AM a child of God, an identity far more precious than that of “hiker”. As John often said in scripture, we are children of God.  What an incredible gift and honor.  The Creator who made the lovely mountains and sunsets that I am so passionate about…calls me His child. In the end, when this life closes, I will go to my Father, knowing that I am loved and have an eternal joyful home in heaven.  And as lovely and inspiring as the mountains and earthly landscapes are here, they will not come close to comparing to the majesty and perfection awaiting me in the Father’s arms.  I AM a child of God.