I would say I grew up in a pretty religious household. Both my parents were raised in the Catholic Church, and so they did the same with their children. I remember almost every Sunday going to mass. It was a ritual and something that fit in with the Sunday routine. I was always a part of the children's ministry and that continued until I graduated high school.
Most nights when I was in elementary school, we would pray together as a family. I tended to be the one who wanted to read out of the children's bible. Always adding parts of mass I remembered to my usual theatrical way of praying. It was something I was known for, and even now something my family jokes about. (I am the least theatrical person nowadays).
When life would get hard I always knew to turn towards my faith, but yet I was still so confused on how to do so. Faith was never shoved down my throat, something I am very thankful for because I now believe it allowed me to form my own ways of doing things. I knew I believed in the Lord, and was just so lost. As I got a little older, 4th-6th grade, church became so boring to me. It became just this monotonous Sunday task that I no longer enjoyed.
I gave things time. I didn't worry myself about this issue, cause I worried myself enough as is. One night I was struggling terribly with my anxiety, and my dad came in and gave me a prayer card with Psalm 121 typed on it. We prayed it together, and he slid it under my pillow. I was in 6th grade when this happened, and I believe that night through that prayer, I found my faith, stronger and deeper than ever. 8 years later I still sleep with that prayer card under my pillow every night.
As I went through middle school and high school my faith continued to grow. I was active in my church's youth ministry still, and also joined a ministry club called FCA in high school (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). All of these faith-based activities certainly helped me to grow by myself, but also with those around me who also shared similar beliefs.
When I came to college at East Carolina there was a big shift in my faith because I now had to motivate myself to go to church on Sunday because it wasn't a family affair anymore. I found the Newman Center which is a Catholic Campus Ministry and I fell in love. I have made many friendships because of this ministry and for that, I am very thankful for.
When I met my boyfriend, now fiance, I knew he wasn't Catholic, but definitely believed in the Lord. We would do devotionals together every once in a while and he would attend church with me when I went when we were together. For about the first two years of our relationship, we kind of just went through the motions in regards to our faith together. I prayed for us to be brought together in this way and I talked to Seth about it on a few occasions.
A few weeks ago there was a big shift in our relationship. Faith is now something that is so strong between the two of us and continues to grow stronger each and every day. He leads me in prayer nightly as well as I do too. We go to church together, we pray, we do our devotionals, and I can only say that this has changed because of the Lord. He knew what our relationship was missing.
I thank the Lord over and over for this strong bond Seth and I now share together, but who I am most proud of is, is Seth. This love of Christ he now so evidently has made my heart so happy. We are happiest together, and I am thankful that the Lord continues to show this to us helping us grow more every day closer to him. For this I will never fall out of love with Him or Seth, I will continue to choose them over and over again day after day.
Psalm 121:
" I raise my eyes to the mountains, from where will my help come, my help comes from the Lord the maker of heaven and earth. The Lord will now allow your foot to slip; your guardian does not sleep. Truly, the guardian of Israel never slumbers nor sleeps. The Lord is your guardian, the Lord is your shade at your right hand. By day the sun cannot harm you, nor the moon by night. The Lord will guard you from all evil, will always guard your life. The Lord will guard your coming and going both now and forever, Amen.
The prayer card my dad gave me. It has been through the wash a few times which is why it is faded.Alexis Coderre
