There are many words that people can use to define you.

• Young
• Haughty
• Mean
• Depressed
• Lost
• Dumb
• Bi-Polar
• Driven
• Angry
• Obsessed
• Liar
• Cheater
• Hyper
• Boring
• Addict
• Divorced
• Widowed
• Scorned
• Lazy
• Thief
• Loser
• Used-to-be
• Worn out
• Beggar
• Dreamer
• Old
• Out-of-shape
• Bitter
• Aloof

But did you know that you can choose how you’ll be defined? You don’t have to continue to wear the label you’ve been pinned. You don’t have to wear the hat that’s been forced on your head.

Those things don’t define you unless you let them.

I’m choosing my label. And my choice is “graced.”

Despite my past. Despite my failures. Despite my weaknesses. Despite my challenges and frustrations and “personality.”

I am defined by grace.

For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted  the church of God. But by God’s grace I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not ineffective. – Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:9-10

*photo credit: John Ashcroft via Creation Swap