People often ask me what they should call me when referring to my disability. My standard cheeky response is, “Just call me Katherine, and if you know me well, I answer to Kath.”
Having lived with a progressive disability since birth, I have had many labels attached to me over the years; many of which are now politically incorrect. The medical community has called me: crippled, feeble-limbed, handicapped, physically challenged, disabled, impaired and a person living with a disability. Until my diagnosis of Charcot Marie Tooth Disease, neurologists labelled me as a patient exhibiting congenital, progressive neuropathy of the peripheral nervous system.
At school, on the street and in the workplace lunchroom, people labelled me with words that I would rather not repeat. Bullies with the sole intent to demean and wound used these words. Sometimes, these bullies cloaked their words in niceties, but their inflexion clearly stated their disdain. No matter what the adage says, words do indeed hurt.
Their barbs hooked deep into my psyche, and the enemy of my soul kept me captive by attaching an invisible string to each hook. As each string was pulled, my misery deepened. The Accuser was my cruel puppet master, and I could not break free from the title role he had assigned to me. He whispered, “You are less than…” and I believed. I thought I had no choice but to wear that label as a name tag for the entire world to see.
I thank God that He delivered me from the enemy’s snare, and my identity is found in Christ. He tells me that I may no longer call myself anything but His own. He says that I am His child. I am the salt of the earth, I am a friend of Christ, I am a slave of righteousness, and I am a prisoner of Christ. I am the chosen of God and dearly beloved. I am much more than this earthly shell, and yet God loves this mortal shell of mine, with all its frailties and quirks.
What do you call yourself? If you call yourself anything that contradicts the following, then spend some time in repentance – change your thinking, and start to speak the truth about yourself.
Who Am I in Christ?
I AM… a child of God; God is spiritually my Father. – Romans 8:14-15
I AM… chosen of God, holy and dearly loved. – Colossians 3:12-13
I AM… a new creation in Christ. – 2 Corinthians 5:17
I AM… in Christ. – Galatians 3:27-28
I AM… an heir of the Father and a joint heir with Christ. – Galatians 4:6-7, Romans 8:17
I AM… God’s workmanship, created in Christ for good works. – Ephesians 2:10
I AM… a citizen and member of the Household of God – Ephesians 2:19
I AM… a member of Christ’s body. – 1 Corinthians 12:27
I AM… united to the Lord and am one spirit with Him. – 1 Corinthians 6:17
I AM… the temple of the Holy Spirit. – 1 Corinthians 3:16, I Corinthians 6:19
I AM… a friend of Christ. – John 15:15
I AM… a slave of righteousness. – Romans 6:17-18
I AM… the righteousness of God in Christ. – 2 Corinthians 5:21
I AM… chosen and ordained by Christ to bear fruit. – John 15:16
I AM… created after the likeness of God, righteous and holy. -Ephesians 4:24
I AM… the salt of the earth. – Matthew 5:13
I AM… filled with the divine nature of Christ and escape the corruption that is in the world – 2 Peter 1:3-4
I AM… a child of light, not of darkness or night. – 1 Thessalonians 5:5
I AM… more than a conqueror through him who loved me. Romans 8:37
I AM… a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. – 1 Peter 2:9
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Until Next Week
© 2008,2018 Katherine Walden
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