Cathy Madavan considers what makes us uniquely 'us'.

Cathy Madavan

One of the most satisfying things about having teenage children is that they know how to use the flotilla of remote controls that drift across my sofa. My kids seem to know instinctively how the amp corresponds to HDMI outputs and how to make the surround sound work. I don't even know what an HDMI output is. I honestly don't even want to know.

Last year we obtained yet another black box, with (deep breath) another remote control. This one can record a whole series of a selected programme at once, to watch whenever we like. I know we are late to the party folks, but it's fab. I feel like we control the TV universe!

One of my favourite series that we have stashed inside the 'box of power' is "Who do you think you are?" where each week a celebrity traces their heritage and discovers that they are, in fact, related to axe-murderers, war-time heroes, kings or whatever. Compulsive family viewing. I love it - I've always been partial to a bit of genealogy, and have my own family tree dating back to 1734 revealing relatives with names like Cissy Inkpen, a lion tamer, some miners, a smattering of dubious parentage and a reassuring absence of axe-murderers.

Then recently my brother announced that he has apparently extended our family tree much further back through history. And, (fanfare please) it turns out, (as if there was ever any doubt) that I am related to Cleopatra! Oh yes. This makes perfect sense. Well, it does at least explain a 20 year addiction to black eye-liner. And come to think of it, I have always fancied the idea of an excess of grapes, milky spa treatments and gold bling.

It is strange though, to think about the way we are assembled like a jigsaw of genes. Who do you really think you are? Who is my techno-savvy daughter actually? She is a genetic mixture of Welsh, Cornish, 'Dorsetish', Sri-Lankan and Malaysian blood. She's connected to so many cultures and traditions; culminating in our home with our habits, our talents, our beliefs, and our moment in history. She was born uniquely assembled "for such a time as this" as much as the Old Testament Queen Esther was.

But despite the history and the mystery of it all, ultimately I am here because I am designed by a God who wants me to live right now with justice and mercy, humbly shaping the present and the future. Like Queen Esther, who of course is my spiritual ancestor and part of my spiritual family tree, I want to understand my heritage, and then impact those people who are waiting to be rescued and loved by God. History will be written again by us today.

Not only can we be in awe at the way that our presence on this planet has been woven together so uniquely, but it's also worth stopping for a moment to consider that we too will leave a legacy. We may or may not have our own children, but spiritually speaking our lives are recorded and watched and reviewed by others. People will learn information from what we teach them, but their lives will be shaped by what we show them. We are depositing values, beliefs, attitudes and experiences all around us. We create a culture in every area where we have influence every day - for better and for worse.

For me, inspired and challenged by my royal relatives, Esther and Cleopatra, I pray I will establish the kingdom of God wherever God asks me to serve. I pray I will create a culture around me where people are built up and not torn down, where faith, hope and love overcome doubt and fear; where we focus more on possibilities than problems and where each person knows that they are uniquely made and loved for a purpose. And, since I'm clearly descended from such glamorous and powerful women, I am going to continue to rock the eye-liner as well. Well, why not?

But what about you? Who do you think you are? What are you called to be and do at this time? Your life is a wonderful story that should give glory to God. You are so much more than your genes or your Facebook history. You are made and called for such a time as this to leave an incredible legacy. Whatever your own background or your family tree, God calls you and equips you and creates the future through you.

So, consider the question again. Who do you think you are? You are a child of God. Walk in the freedom and the power of that truth today and pass on the inheritance that God has given to you.