How May I Help You?

I'm reading this book...  I hesitate to mention the title, and truthfully, it's really not "my thing."  I don't usually like reading female authors, and this one so far... is kinda "tupperware" for me...  But I don't want to plagiarize so I guess I'll tell you what it's called.  It is called Is That All He Thinks About? by Marla Taviano.  It was given to me.  I am reading it and gleaning for good info.

That said, I read something yesterday that goes along with some stuff I've been thinking about lately... not so much related to the topic of the book.  Here is an excerpt:

At this point we could ask, "Who's going to look out for me if I don't?  I don't want to lose my identity by constantly serving someone else.  I am my own person, after all."

Well, Paul seems to think that we can't truly come into our own until we die to ourselves and find our identity somewhere else---namely in Christ.  Galatians 2 makes this crystal-clear.

It's inexplicable, but who we are becomes even more individual, real, and beautiful when we deny our own desires and serve others.  The world has it backward---putting someone else's needs before your own means you're strong, not weak.

 "It's inexplicable, but who we are becomes even more individual, real, and beautiful when we deny our own desires and serve others."  I love this.  This is precisely what I am wrestling with, but hearing God on.  I think this applies to all of us, men and women... in our marriages, families, churches and communities.  A mystery, but True.