Religion

When you marry someone who is a different faith or religion than you, how do you raise your kids?

What role do Jesus and God have in your home when you blend the two religions?

Can you even blend the two?

Growing up Catholic, for me, was always questionable. I remember from an early time in my life questioning the things I heard in mass, or didn't hear because my parents were just trying to keep me entertained since there was no Sunday School.

I didn't enjoy church. I've never enjoyed being told what to do or how to feel.

And for me, that's the Catholic Church. I think going to a Catholic High School, really made me question a lot. Does Jesus really care what I wear to school or church? NO! It's just another way for the authority to tell me what to do.

I preferred to go with my friends to their churches that had Sunday School. It was not just fun, but I learned more about Jesus and God on those Sunday's than on days I'd go to Mass. Luckily, I had parents that were open to letting my brother and I explore those other churches and see how we felt. I never had pressure to always be Catholic from them. My parents wanted us to know Jesus and God and love them and lean on them in times of need.

Marrying someone who was not Catholic was perfectly fine with my parents. My hardcore Catholic grandma, not so much!

When we got married, in the Catholic church, there were mixed emotions to say the least. I wanted to get married in that specific church, not because it was Catholic, but because that's the church my parents were married, and my father's funeral was. And for me, that was enough reason.

Craig and I knew that we were not going to raise our kids Catholic. I just didn't believe in it enough to do it. So, when they were babies, we had them babtized in his Lutheran church. We started taking Drew to Sunday School, but something was still missing for us.

I yearned for a relationship with God. I had accepted Jesus many years ago, but we still weren't going to church, and we just kept making excuses.

I believe that people are placed in your life at certain times for a reason.

When I met my good friend Julie, just 2 years ago, she was just what I needed. We work together and she brought so much joy and light to my life. She helped me get through a lot and still continues that today. She was telling me about her church (Christian, bible based) and I was very intrigued. Still wasn't going, but very intrigued. Then this summer, something clicked....

Julie introduced me to my new church family and didn't even know she was! We have now been going to this new church for 2 weeks and I feel so good! I'm reading the bible and studying it for what seems like the first time in my life. I love the people, the sermons, love love the kids programs. My boys are loving church and their services, which are at the same time as ours. It's a great church. It's so refreshing to feel welcome and not judged.

I've met a mentor in Jennifer, whom I met only 2 weeks ago, and know so much about and just love her life story and think she's an awesome person.

I was really wanting a change in school for this coming year. I didn't get the change I was looking for, instead a small change will have to do. It's not my time to have such a big change. And I know that my new church family is going to help me through this upcoming school year and the many challenges that I will face in and out of the classroom.

I'm so happy and excited for my family and this new adventure in learning more about God and Jesus.

Religion can be a touchy subject, but it shouldn't be. We should be able to choose our religion or faith practices and not be judged by another religion, or family/friends.