Three Truths and A Lie

Let’s play a game called “Three Truths and a Lie”. To play the game, I have to tell you four things about myself and you have to pick out the one lie amongst the three truths. Ready? Here we go…

• I really like my children to make their beds
• I have shown my children how to make their beds
• None of my children make their beds on a regular basis
• Because my children don’t make their beds, I have trained them poorly and, therefore, I am a bad mother.

Can you guess which one is the lie?

I couldn’t, until I read a chapter in Practical Theology for Women about finding my identity in Christ. Before I read this chapter based on John 15 (the Vine and the branches), I assumed all of the above statements were true

But…after I spent some time at the feet of Jesus today, and after he reminded me not to base my identity on anyone or anything but Him, I realized that the last statement (the one about me being inept in child-rearing) was a lie. Their lack of bed-making success does not determine if I am a good or bad person. My worth is in Jesus Christ and Him alone. I cannot base my identity on my ability to succeed in my profession, on how productive my schedule is, or on how clean my children’s rooms appear. God does not value me less if my children are lazy in sheet straightening or value me more if they make hospital corners. God sees me as beautiful because Jesus is His lens. In Jesus, I am beautiful because His blood removed my unworthiness.

He is the vine—my lifeblood—my identity. I am a branch—dependent and unable to live without His grace and sustenance. I am valuable because I am in Jesus. Unmade beds do not demote me…but they still irritate me. So be it. I tried.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:5