Do Not Let Others Create You
written by Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“Yet for us there is not God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. ”
We inherit much from previous generations. Even if you do not receive money, you do receive an inheritance. What is given to you is both good and challenging. We inherit our national identity, economic starting point, genetic makeup, and more. I would gladly give back many aspects of my inheritance if I could. Jeff Wheeler seems to understand my plight in the fantasy book The Queen’s Poisoner. “When enough people believe something of you, it can distort your view of yourself. We mimic the judgments of others. It would take a very strong person indeed to resist the effects of so much ill will.”
We do not have to be our family history. We can avoid falling into their trap when we name our multi-generational dysfunctions. For example, when your family has a history of alcohol abuse, acknowledging the potential predisposition can help guide your decision-making in a positive direction. Rather than defining yourself by family history, you and God can create your future, which does not need to include anything debilitating.
We call our Trinitarian God the “Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer.” If we are to live Godly lives, then we should participate in the process of creating. Creating our lives is a profound work of art. When you include God in the lifelong process of making you, you can transform beyond distorted views of yourself. You find your strength in God, and you can receive divine assistance in resisting the effects of so much ill will.
It is easy to fall into the trap of accepting other people’s vision of us. Yet, other people’s ideas of who we are is so limiting. No one other than you and God knows who you are in the deepest core of your being. Prayerfully trust that as you dive into who you are and want to be and remain open to who God wants you to be, you become more than others believe you to be. You do not need to be the worst of your family history. The family history you want to embrace is the family of your divine Parent!
Get Daily Devotions Delivered to Your Inbox!
