"What do you want to be when you grow up?" Remember that question? Did you want to wear that Superman cape or gulp spinach like Popeye? Did you ever wish you could sing like Judy Garland or be the perfect homemaker like Donna Reed?

Who are we created to be? Who are we today? What is our excuse for who we are and what we do?

What is your excuse for being part of LWML? Why do you support, pray for and share your time and gifts with the LWML? Think back to the person, the event, the place when you were first introduced to the Lutheran Women's Missionary League. Remember the sounds, the feelings, the people you encountered. What was the occasion? Was it a volunteer service event? Was it a holiday gathering? Was it a service activity or mission outreach project? What was it that touched your heart for this organization?

Whatever your answer, that is your excuse! What continues to excite and motivate you about being part of LWML today? It is no doubt some of those same service activities, the mission focus, spiritual growth opportunities, fellowship gatherings, zone or district events, prayer groups or just the unity, purpose and fun!

When asked why they participate in LWML, women responded on their 2003 convention evaluations:

I can be part of women devoted to spreading the love of Christ to people all over the world.

I share a purpose of mission and spreading Jesus' love with Christian sisters.

I am part of a Christ-centered organization.

In LWML I can make a difference in life-changing mission work.

LWML provides an opportunity to serve God while building relations with other Lutheran women.

That is the LWML-loving interdependence! Serving one another and allowing others to help us-sharing our gifts so the whole of those gifts brings purpose in the lives of others and gives glory to God.

You are an important person! Each of us in the LWML has an excuse for being: being God's child, being God's daughter, being chosen to serve, being chosen to participate, being chosen to help pray for missions and missionaries, sharing in the support of our grants, sharing in the TEAM of LWML women across the United States.

What an excuse! What a reason for being!