not who we're not ...

for those of you who do not know, i am a special education teacher’s assistant at an elementary school in spring hill, tn. i started out as an education major, but then decided to pursue music business, which is what brought me to nashville. seven years later, it’s funny how things have now come full circle. i love living here more every day. and i love getting to work with the kids.

tonight i went to a class on strategies for paraprofessionals working with autism. one of the things they emphasized is people-first language. you don’t say the ‘autistic child’. they are a child who also happens to have autism. how often do we fall into that trap on a daily basis? the person with diabetes is a diabetic. the person with arthritis is an arthritic. the person with a drinking problem is an alcoholic. the person who sins is a sinner. we define people by their limitations. and people perform based on how they are defined by others.

thank God He doesn’t look at us that way! we are who we are, regardless of what we may have or haven’t done. and ephesians 1:3-7 says that we are chosen, adopted, blessed, forgiven, accepted and redeemed. even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. this is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure. (vv. 4-5)

what a relief! from the beginning of time, God knew my true nature. and yet He chose me for His own. i’m not awkward christine or controlling christine or selfish christine. i am simply christine, who happens to be awkward and controlling and selfish (among other things) at times. but i am HIS christine, and that is all that matters.