Are you sure you are who you say you are?

I always knew who I was. My dad’s parents were Dutch (Baker) and Irish (McMannus). My mom’s parents were both German (Wilfong and Westfall). We were Americans hailing from the coal mines of Pennsylvania and the hills of West Virginia. Farmers. Laborers. Hard working honest folk.

It was a need to verify (or not) the Baker story of American Indian heritage that led me to do a DNA test. When the results came back, I stared in shock. There is no Irish and no Dutch markers in my blood, but 94% of me is from eastern Europe, specifically Oman. OMAN!! Does that mean I'm a terrorist?!? Indigenous American accounts for 3% of me, but not American Indian, but Haiti. HAITI? How did that happen?

I know not to take this too seriously. However, at the time of getting my DNA results, I felt a bit out-of-sorts, at a loss if you will, as though suddenly I didn’t know who I was. How can a German Dutch Irish woman suddenly become Eastern European? Oman is on the Arabian Peninsula. On the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman. Across the Arabia Sea from Oman is Mumbai. India. Where am I in my DNA?

As I struggled through this identity crisis, it comforted me to know that I really did know exactly who I was and no test would change that. I am a child of the king, a daughter of the living God and someday I will share His kingdom.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God. And that is what we are! (I John 3:1).

No matter what your circumstances, no matter if you feel unattached, unwelcome, or "unbelonging," know that if you are a born-again Christian, you are a child of God. Your home is heaven and nothing can separate you from this heritage.

As I struggle with my "terrorist" DNA, keep in mind that God loves us very much.

May you be blessed as you come to terms with who you are in Christ, Regina!