My Mom and Me

Here is a photo of my mom and me that I just came across....  It was taken over 10 years ago, before my mom got sick and died....  

An Essay on Religion in My Life

My earliest memory of religion in our home was when my parents and I, and a younger sister, had Friday evening/"Sabbath" worship.  My dad played the piano and my mom sang children's songs to us, with finger actions.  It was a pleasant time and helped me to appreciate the acts of praising and worshiping God....  There was a Higher Power....  We also had a set of detailed, children's Bible story books with colour pictures which our parents read to us.  I found them very interesting.

My parents had pressures on them and, unfortunately, they divorced later on.  The first separation came just before my 14th birthday.  But if I had a resume for my high school years, I believe it would be very strong in my employment and interests.  

In college, I started out well but my mental health was slowly crashing, and something happened just after I dropped out of college....  With my religion, I knew about "faith and works," like it says in James 2, in the Bible.  I thought that if I showed that I was living a good life, then God would say that I can be saved....  But we had some preachers who specialized in "righteousness by faith," at the time; and I learned that we can be assured of salvation FIRST, and then we'll feel empowered to live a good life, with God's help.  Of course it made a difference.  

However, my mental health was still bad for a while.  I had a dysfunctional life, in some ways, and was socially withdrawn for about five years or more.  I held onto my faith the best I could, and as it says in Psalm 145:14, "The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down."  I gradually got a lot of therapy.  I was able to do some work, and I got married for a while, and had a child.

When I got into the special police project, I knew that God had had mercy on me in my lifetime and I could certainly afford to show mercy to other people!  How could I not?

Right now, I believe that God is the Creator and Sustainer of life.  Jesus is equal to God [Philippians 2:6], and He participated in creating the world [John 1].  Deuteronomy 30:19 says we can choose life or choose death.  I choose to accept life, and I'm willing to live it in God's way....  I appreciate life.  Also, we can be "labourers together with God...."  1 Corinthians 3:9. And Jesus said, "...Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world [through the Holy Spirit]."  Matthew 28:20.  I need for Jesus to be with me, and I appreciate it.  Life is a journey, and our spiritual life is a journey also....  

This isn't meant to be a thorough explanation of my life and spirituality but I wanted to share something and do a write-up for this second Waterlily blog--especially for my past college contacts, and for the prejudiced Christian police, if they're interested.