I am thankful for my faith. Faith is extremely important to me and it has shaped me into the person I am today. My faith has certainly helped me through rough times, and it has brought me a sense of peace and serenity. Some folks have told me that I’m a bit of a rare breed because I STILL go to Mass every Sunday and all the Holy Days of Obligation. (I’m Roman Catholic.) I was born and raised this way and to this day I still practice – not because I’m forced to, but because it’s the essence of who I am. Even when I go on trips, I make sure that part of the research that goes into planning the trip includes looking for a local church and its schedule of masses. Sometimes it’s unavoidable, like when I go on a cruise, so I make sure I say an extra prayer on top on my daily prayers.
My faith has helped me deal with a lot of really tough things I’ve had to experience. From a human standpoint, there are times things looked really bleak and really tested my faith. I hung in there and prayed about it and I’m always reminded in some form that God won’t give me things I cannot handle.
My faith has also been instrumental in the happy and good things in my life. I remember a time when things looked really bad in our family (my father was diagnosed with kidney cancer AND he lost his job almost simultaneously), but somehow my parents were able to throw a Sweet 16 party for me – no doubt with the help of a LOT of prayers and God!
I’m very involved in my church, and they have become like a second family to me. I am a member of a few groups within the church. I volunteer at the annual festival my church holds. One of the things I take pride in is that I am a member of the choir. For years my parents have tried recruiting me, but I fought the urge to join even though I love to sing. I helped out during Christmas one year and ever since then, I’ve been hooked and I actually look forward to rehearsals and our newly minted Christmas concert! We started the last year and now the congregation looks for the annual concert. What originally was a fundraiser is now an extra show to foster a sense of community. Where could anyone go wrong with a night of entertainment that’s good for the whole family and that’s in a familiar location? There’s something so calming about singing and it also fills me with such pride and a great sense of accomplishment!
I’m not saying everyone has to be like me, but I find it very comforting to know I have something I can turn to in all the times in my life – whether good or bad. Whatever you choose, make sure you consider strengthening your existing faith or choosing something you truly believe in that’s not of this world; but please, whatever you do, try not to utilize your faith only when it’s convenient or just because it’s a fad. True faith will work only when you are honest with it and with yourself.
Would anyone like to share any of their personal faith stories? I’d love to hear it!
XOXOXOXO,
Leave a Reply