Do You Know Who You Are?

Posted by Mar 8, 2018 Action, Faith and Service, THE FRONT PORCH
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have been an amateur genealogist for many years. I have spent countless hours visiting historical societies, archives, cemeteries and locations, discovering what I could about my ancestors.

I have gathered my ancestors back to the 1500s and learned a lot about their lives, their grit and determination. Like many of you, I have ancestors from diverse backgrounds- from Quakers, to Bavarians, to a Duke, to the KKK (yes, the KKK), to Revolutionary War soldiers and a Pilgrim who was a passenger on the Mayflower. They each had their faith, their hopes and dreams, along with their courage and their fears.

A potpourri of many cultures and ethnicities are in my DNA, fitting together like pieces of a puzzle. Does that determine who I am?  What does that mean in my life?

We are enriched by our past, but that is not who we are. We have the ability to mold our lives into the person we want to be. We all make choices throughout our lives, which lead us down different roads.

Often our lives get busy – so filled up with doing a million different things that we don’t have time to take a good look at ourselves. Are we being being kind to those around us, or just a bit bland? Are we helpful or are we so stuck in our day -to-day lives that we don’t even see a need? Do we moan and groan about everything or do we choose to be happy where we are?

 

Life isn’t always easy, but it’s not supposed to be. It is filled with sunshine and rain, mountains and valleys, good times and bad. Through it all, we need to bloom where we’re planted.

“I would like people to recognize in looking at my story that the person who has the most to do with what happens to you is you. It’s not the environment, it’s not the other people who were there trying to help you or trying to stop you. It’s what you decide to do and how much effort you put behind it.”  Ben Carson

We can shine like a light into someone’s dark world, or sit,
soak and sour on the sidelines and watch life go by.
What are you doing with your life?
The choice is in your hands….

I hope you enjoyed reading this article.
Be sure to check out another of my articles:  STAND FAST!!

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About Gail Pinder

I was born in New Jersey and raised in a small town in Pennsylvania. I have lived in many places – Texas, Arkansas, Delaware and finally Michigan. Several years ago, I met a wonderful man – a Vietnam Navy vet who shares my love of God and Country! We have been happily married for more than 18 years. I have two children of my own and Emery has two children. We have four wonderful grandchildren. Emery and I both have Multiple Sclerosis. He is now in a powerchair and I am his caregiver. Life is somewhat challenging, but we do the best we can. We tell everyone that “We have MS, but it doesn’t have us!” I have always loved to write and my dream was to becoming a “writer”. PICC gave me a window to my dream and an opportunity to share my thoughts with others. Our faith is strong and I don’t know where we would be without it. We are determined to spread a little sunshine in a darkened world.
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