identity

i remember a few years back when the leader of leader ladies were meeting with the good Wanda Strappazon and she talked with us about our identity. i didn't get it. i just remember that our identity is not what we do, or our family relationships but who we are in Christ.
i've been hit with that again recently. i was feeling stressed at work and my boss boldly told me like only she can that i place my identity in the success of my students, and if they're not doing well, then i feel like a failure. well maybe she didn't say failure, but it was something along those lines. and as much as i didn't want to believe that, i knew it was partly true.
as i thought about it the next couple days i realized that i also make myself into a "defender." but not in a good way. when a kid gets into trouble on my turf, even if i don't verbally or physically react, on the inside i bow up like a bear getting ready to attack the predator of my cubs. even if the girl deserves the correction she's receiving, i feel like i have to back her up or make excuses for her. but i don't need to make excuses for any one's sin. if we are truly in need of a Defender, the Lord will suffice, so i'm trying to stay out of His way.
but wait there's more. i also had a revelation that i place my identity in the fact that i live with my parents...loser. let's face it, that's what society says and what the media portrays. and then there's old maid...30 and not married yet...delightful.
but there's no truth to those labels. i know that we all identify ourselves with what we do, or in some cases what we've done. we place a scarlet letter on ourselves. but we need to see ourselves as God sees us and start living like we believe what He says about us...royal priesthood, adopted children, heirs, beloved, chosen, redeemed, forgiven...