During my entire life I have many experiences as growing up that have shaped my character. I grew up in a single parent household with four other siblings me being the youngest. When growing up in my household my mother always taught us about God and the Bible. I always had a hard time reading the bible and my mother use to take me to bible study classes. I was raised into a Baptist church and went to church every Sunday. My mother worked six days a week but always made sure we went to church on Sundays.
My mother would pray with us doing difficult and good times as well. I really didn’t know why prayer was so important growing up but my mother always said this was my time to talk to Jesus. I than began praying at a young age and continue to pray to this day. If we didn’t go to church on some Sundays my mother would still make sure we read the Bible or even look at some church shows on television. I never forget me and my siblings would get so mad at my mother, because we didn’t want to even go to church and just wanted to relax on our Sunday evenings.
Growing up reading the bible was still hard for me especially trying to read out of the James King version. My mother even tried getting me the kid version to help me better understand. One experience I can remember when I was in high school trying out for the cheerleading team; this is when God really tested my faith. It was a lot of girls trying out for the team and I was so nervous and imitated as well. I continue to think I wouldn’t make it and mess up in tryout because I was always the shy girl.
Just before try outs and the night before I prayed real hard that I make the cheerleading team. I didn’t make it the year before so I already had negative thoughts of not making the team. I end up doing an excellent job for tryouts and made the team with flying colors. I knew then God answered my prayers with no doubts. God was trying to test my faith I just didn’t know it at that time. I was crying with tears of joy when I saw my name on the list and immediately began thanking God for all his blessings.
It may seem strange, but the cheerleading season, as well as certain circumstances that happened during the season was beneficial in learning some simple concepts of my Christian faith. My faith was initially introduced to me by my parents and they practiced their faith very often. I learned that every faith involves a decision; it is not about what we claim to believe, but what we actually do believe, that is true faith. Faith is something different to everyone and is a belief. It holds true to every religious and non-religious person. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3: 5-6).
That has been one of my favorite passages from the bible, whenever I feel like crying “Why Me”, I simply read that passage and just tell myself that God has a plan for me. I look at God as my role model and also feel like prayer gives me the time to build my relationship with God. Later, in my young adulthood years I went to church and decided to give myself to the Lord and get baptized. This was the best day of my life.
I was going through a lot during my young adulthood years and at that time God was the only person I could depend on and turn to. I was a single mother at a young age and later became pregnant which did disappointment my mother, however we did not believe in abortions. After having my daughter, working fulltime, and going school fulltime I really didn’t have the time to go to church as much. I would watch church on television because I working every weekend and continue to pray as usual. As of today I still working fulltime and in school and really don’t have the time but continue to make time for my God.
I also involves my children in the word and teach them about the importance of knowing God. I do involve God in my life every day and continue to keep prayer in my daily schedule. My plan is to continue keep God in my life and go to church a little more in my weekly schedule as before. I thank god for him continuing to bless me and my family, and will continue to believe in his word he teaches us in the bible. God had blessed me last year with a new house, car, and this year graduation from the BSN nursing program which I’m excited about his plan for me and my family.
