Where’s your identity?

This time last year, I was on sabbatical – mostly just hanging out with The Lord. Many of our conversations focused on memories. Things I’d long forgotten long ago. As we talked about how He saw me and what I’d experienced, I realized how close He has been to me all along.

But as a kid, I never felt like I fit in.
Starting with my trip to the radio station.

One day, He reminded me something that had taken place when I was eleven or twelve. That was the Christmas when I first realized I was “The Welfare Kid” in our church. I knew because a Holiday Basket got delivered to our front door.

Then one day, He reminded me something that had taken place when I was eleven or twelve. That was the Christmas when I first realized I was “The Welfare Kid” in our church. I knew because a Holiday Basket got delivered to our front door.

Mom was a great cook and loved to bake. But money was tight, so she bought the basics – chicken, ground beef, potatoes, onions, canned vegetables, apples, etc.

Peanut butter and cheese were free, thanks to a government program.
We ate a lot of grilled cheese sandwiches.

Trips to the grocery store happened once a month.
Fresh fruits like bananas and oranges were a rare treat.

However, Christmastime always included oranges and tangerines and mixed nuts in the shell.

But so much stuff in that Holiday Basket seemed expensive and unnecessary and simply didn’t make sense to us. Another reason to feel like I didn’t fit in.

As I contemplated my identity as “The Welfare Kid,” The Lord reminded me of another Christmas experience that was even more revealing of how I saw myself.

To be continued tomorrow …

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