My Family

For a young person in today’s world, it isn’t always easy to grow in a relationship with God.  There are so many obstacles and roadblocks that stand in our way; and it’s sometimes hard to focus on our ultimate goal.  I think growing up in my family made focusing a little easier for me.

My parents have a total of 5 children: 3 boys and 2 girls.  I rank youngest in line; and my oldest brother is 8 years older than me.  Growing up, we were your average Catholic family going to mass on Sundays.  By the first reading, my sister and I would have to be separated for talking and giggling, asleep with our heads on our dad’s lap by the end of the homily, and squeezing the life out of our brothers’ hands during the Our Father.  Like I said, just your average, Catholic family

What I love most about my family is that they taught me how to love the Lord, and to notice the little miracles He works in my life every day.  There was never a book that I read, or even a religious education class, that could have taught me that.  It was just simply in the day-to-day events of my family.  It was watching the way my parents loved each other, and how much that love was a reflection of the love they each had for God.  It was how my Dad prayed over us when we got hurt, or watching my mom see God in every situation.  It wasn’t so much that they just talked aboutGod, it was that they talked to Him.  My family taught me that being on fire for my faith doesn’t mean I have to cut myself off from the world.  They taught me to give glory to God in everything I do–whether that be cheerleading, show choir, dance, or just hanging out with friends.