Faith

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Velvety cushions on cold, hard-wood benches… That’s the first memory I can recall of my earliest religious experiences. Being told to sit still is the next.

Sadly, church was seen as more of an extravagance in my family. My Mother never felt good enough to be around the well-dressed, well-mannered crowd that frequented the churches in our area. I loved the music, the smells and the decorations, though. Going to church was something I always wanted more of.

As a teenager, I was asked to attend church with my best-friend’s family. Here, I had the opportunity to experience a lifestyle completely different from my own. Parents were still married to each other. Families ate dinner together and talked. The social events I was fortunate enough to attend were like food for my starving soul. How could I find this togetherness in my life?

As an adult, things have been a little more complicated. After having a child (the most beautiful creature in existence) with a man I hardly knew, finding love with a married man and hitting rock bottom financially as a single mother God, again, led me to church. I’d seen it before. A fairly small red-brick building nestled on a cozy corner not far from the beach. It didn’t appear to be very different from any other church I had attended. The strange thing was I just couldn’t stop myself from walking through those doors Sunday after Sunday. I may not have completely understood what being Christian was all about, but I certainly believed that God had brought me to the right place in which to learn it.

During the second of four new-member’s classes, I listened intently as Pastor Laura described what it meant to be truly loved by God. Here was a subject I’d never given much thought to. God loved everyone, Right? That seemed simple enough. What I didn’t know was that she was about to bless me with words I desperately needed to hear. Words that every person who breathes air on this planet should hear.

“God is infinite” she stated. “He is with you always, no matter what.” She spoke as she criss-crossed the room, making eye contact with as many people as she could. “And he loves you.” She continued, “But, not just “you” as in the entire human race… “You” as in the person sitting in that chair listening to me right now. He loves you. In fact, if you were the only person on earth when his death took place, he would have endured all of that horrible abuse and died on that cross… Just for you.”

This last sentence brought tears to my eyes. I was one of seventy seven people sitting in that room, but I felt as though she had given that message to only me. I had never thought of my relationship with God as such a personal and beautiful thing.

My life has changed drastically since this moment. Armed with a personal relationship with Christ, I have found love with my husband, a life I can be proud of with my daughter and trust that grows daily.

God loves YOU. YOU are loved by God. There is nothing more important in this life than that one, indisputable fact. Stay close to him and know that there is no one who is able to love YOU more.

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