​"Are you really who others think you are?" ...by Amanda

As I was getting ready for church, I reached for one of my favorite necklaces. It is a glass front pendant on a long chain. Inside are several tiny charms that float around. I smiled as I looked at my tiny treasures, a tiny nurses hat, an angel, a cross, a heart with mom written on it, a circle that has walk with God on it, and a diamond all float around against a piece that says blessed against the back.
​I began to think about the people who gave me this beautiful gift. ​

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My best friend, my grown daughters and my husband had all added to it in some way.

A thought suddenly hit me and humbled me greatly - this is what I am to these people, this is who they see me as!

It represents "who I am" to others who look at my necklace. I slowly began to study each charm.

The heart...
Yes , I am a mother of four and the heart represents love. Which I do very much!
The cross...
The cross reminds me of my risen Saviour, who died for my sins and loves me to no end!
The angel...
The angel means that I have acted unselfishly and helpd others, also it reminds me that God is watching over me.
The nurses hat...
The nurses hat has been a large part of my life. I wanted to be a nurse from the age of five.
My grandma was a nurse and I admired her so much, all regal in her white uniform!  I am a natural nurturer of others.
The "walk with God"...
The "walk with God" tells me that everyday actions speak louder than words! Someone once told me, "You must live your life so that if anyone speaks bad about you, no one will believe it!"  
The diamond...
The diamond is a symbol of great value. I am told that I am valuable to my family.
I am blessed...
The back plate says " blessed ",  and yes I am so much!

It  makes me happy that people see these things in me, but also  I am humbled and question myself, "do I live up to this standard?" My grandma once told me, people will know you for who you are. That means how you act, the people you hang out with, where you are seen out, what you watch, how you talk, and the list goes on.

Sometimes we need to look at ourselves as others are seeing us. Don't get offended but do be honest! We can't fix something that we don't think is broken. Right?

Ask yourself these questions:
Have I let the world get in the way?  
Am I only working for things?
Have I any resentment in my heart?
What do you see?

If things are not what they should be then, pray. Ask Jesus to help you and he will.  

When I get to worrying about the future or anything I just say a verse that helps me.
One of my favorite verses is 1 John 3:18:
 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth!

I  also like 1 John 4:4:
Ye are of God little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world!

Remember to be who you really are!
                                                                           Until next time!  Blessings, 

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