It’s pretty commonplace in our culture to have an athlete say something like this after a record-breaking performance, “It’s great, but I don’t want this championship to define me.”

I agree with that because, like a lot of you, even though I was a funeral director, I didn’t want that to be my identity or define me either.  You see, I have had plenty of other identities in my life  — son, husband, father, friend, classmate, runner, golfer, Little League coach, blogger, and on and on.  And, while I relish each of those roles I don’t want any of them to define me. . . because my life is much more than each single role.

However, and I write this column aimed at the Christian readers of Funeral Director Daily, today is what we refer to as “Good Friday”.  It is the day, that for Christian believers, Jesus Christ went to the cross to die for all of our sins.  And come Sunday, He rose from the dead making good on his promise to literally re-build the temple in three days.

Jesus Christ also had a lot of identities — he was a friend, a son, a brother, a preacher, and a leader among other things.  And, he led with a group of great traits.  The apostle Paul tells us of some of those traits in his letter to the Colossians (Chapter 3, Verse 12).  Those traits being compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Those are traits that I would love to be defined by.   Matter of fact, I pray every day for help to get better at those ideals.

The person who rose from the dead on Easter Sunday had those traits. . . .If you can let those traits “define” you, you will be better for it.  I think that is a goal worth working towards.

Happy Easter — He is Risen!  Alleluia!!

Enter your e-mail below to join the 3,120 others who receive Funeral Director Daily articles daily:

“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”