The beginning started years ago, but my beginning - my realization began on Saturday March 5, 2011! I am going to give you a little history before jumping back to 3.5.11 and the events of that important day.
I have a Catholic mother and Jewish father. This stuns most people the first time I say this so I always pause, giving them enough time to take it in. Neither one wanted to upset either side of the family so I wasn't really 'given' a proclaimed religion. Knowing what I know now, this was part of Gods plan for me but at the time and for years after I felt like I didn't have a solid background of Faith to believe in. I celebrated Christmas and Easter but I also celebrated Passover and Rosh Hashanah. I was baptized Catholic as an infant (and later had my first communion and confirmation as an adult.) I rarely if ever went to church for anything unless it was a wedding or funeral but did go to the Synogugue quite a bit. I remember going to Beth El on friday nights for Seder dinner. It was always the same meal of salad with a light vinegarette dressing, roasted chicken, potatoes (roasted) and steamed green beans. I loved it! We prayed, the Cantors sang in hebrew and there was dancing. I loved every minute of it. The whole time I wasn't really sure why I was there other than to have a 'religious' meal. To this day I can't answer the question of what the meaning behind the meal was.
I knew I beleived in God, heaven, and hell. I believed in Jesus and that he was born of the virgin Mary. I knew that Christmas was about his birth and Easter was about his death but that was about it. For the most part, this was what I knew of religion.
Let us jump to 3.5.11.....This was the weekend for the Christ Community Church Women's Retreat! I was invited by a friend the year before and was looking forward to coming again this year. The biggest and best part of my weekend was that I truly felt, believed and could say outloud......that...."I believe Jesus died on the cross for ME! (and for YOU) A simple phrase was so hard to say outloud. How could "someone" that didn't know me do "something" like that for me? Was I worth that? I had attempted to say it 3 or 4 times before it actually came out and I believed it to be true. Tears streamed down my face - YES I am worth it!
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