I went to Mass and forgot that it was May Crowning with all of the 2nd graders that had made their First Communion processing into the church.  There is something to be said about the effect of celebrating a Mass that also honors Mary.  For the first time in a while I was overcome with emotion literally feeling my spirit surge inside throughout the entire Mass.  On my knees in prayer after receiving the Eucharist I had my eyes closed and heard Fr. Borski ask us to stand.  That is when I saw the monstrance (this holds the Eucharist for exposition which is when Catholics spend time in adoration).  I didn’t realize we were going to have the exposition of the Eucharist and adoration that morning!  Tears came to my eyes.  What a gift to spend so much time with God.

Fr. Borski processed with the monstrance outside and into the chapel of our old church.  It had been so long since we have used the old chapel since we have built the new church.  I missed having adoration in this chapel and as I entered the memories of so many crazy encounters (literally unbelievable God moments) came flooding back and I was overcome by emotion again.  I knelt in prayer and realized that as I prayed for friends who are fighting cancer, my husband who is fighting MS, friends who are battling depression and eating disorders and the list goes on and on with the people I pray for who I’ve met in just the past few weeks…I was never praying for my new ministry.  The revelation came to me almost as if someone whispered in my ear, “Don’t forget to pray for Hopeful Hearts Ministry.”  And I realized I’ve asked so many others to pray for this new mission I’m on but I’ve not felt as if I had a ‘right’ to pray for it myself.  I know, that sounds insane and I can’t quite explain what I mean but it is like I am self-serving if I pray for it.  I don’t really feel this way but I think this  feeling has kept me from praying for it’s growth, success, etc.  So I went to the tiny altar in the chapel and laid out my hands as if I was giving up this ministry to Christ.  “Take it and make it yours.  I’m here to do whatever You want.  And if it falters that is okay too.  Whatever your will.”

I left adoration feeling as if I could float up to heaven and hang out for awhile.  Instead I had to remain in reality and run errands.   But out of nowhere I got a call from a young man that recently graduated college who had been in my youth group back in the day.  He wanted to meet for lunch before he started his new job in Colorado.  Even though I had a ton of other ‘to do’s’ I took the moment and jumped at the chance to catch up.  Before meeting him I made sure to stop in and see my youngest in a band concert at the school.  The smile that was on his face when I appeared was like receiving an award.  It wasn’t an official concert and there were only 3 of us mom’s there but I was so happy I decided to go! 

Lunch with the young man was so good and to have an ‘adult’ conversation with him about what his plans were, his faith and so many topics in regards with our faith it was just amazing.  He even validated a few things I needed to hear in regards to this ministry.  After our lunch I had to run some books over to my friend’s shop and there I met two women who were vendors.  They saw the book and asked me about it.  Low and behold BOTH of them were involved in different ministries dealing with women and abuse.  One works with a women’s shelter here in Houston and the other lives in Vermont and works with a non-profit that helps to rescue women involved in human trafficking.  That has been one of my MAIN GOALS is to find connections in BOTH of these ministries to work with these women in their healing process. 

GOD IS SO GOOD!!  Numbers were exchanged and hopefully, God willing, we will be connected to help one another help these young women become who HE has created them to be and to live as survivors! 

It has been one crazy day and even with all of the off the ‘list’ detours I still managed to get my list done! (Except for the writing)… but I do trust God makes that time happen for me as well when He is ready for me to get it DONE.

God showed up for me in such a HUGE way today.  Thank you for allowing me to share.  I pray you are encouraged to open your day up to Him and see where He takes you!

Blessings

Shannon

Recently I had one of these encounters just before heading out on my trip to New York City.  That morning I actively prayed to God to allow me the gift to show up for Him that day and before I knew it I was in this conversation with someone who longs to be ‘in good graces’ as they put it but feels their sins are just too bad.  I knew where they were coming from and I was anxious for this person to turn this lie around.  We talked in-depth about the things I felt were ‘unforgiveable’ and yet God wiped the slate clean and has taken me where I thought I’d never venture.  We talked about other sins I knew of friends committing that seem to be ‘the granddaddy of all sins’ and yet they TOO were forgiven and living a life of freedom. 

Nope.  This one was a hard sell.  We finally got down to the truth of the resistance.  “I’m afraid to accept the forgiveness because that means I’ll have to live that life.  What if I can’t live that life?”  I know this thought well.  It kept me from true freedom for years.  Just the thought of having to become a ‘goody goody’ or ‘holier than thou’ or ‘lace and button up stuffy’ made me hold onto the threads of the lie that kept me tethered and hanging in the pit.  I tried several ways to keep the conversation going but I was losing them and realized the best shot at this point was simply to ‘show up’ in my actions.  God willing another time to break open this conversation will be had again.

Not long after this conversation I was standing in New York City,  my head  spinning from the near death taxi ride from La Guardia Airport and with eyes wide open took in a multitude of people that were rushing from here to there.  It seemed a bit ironic that I have this conversation of being ‘good enough’ and ‘afraid to be who God wants us to be’ and here I was standing in a place that was overcrowded with people who seemed to be ‘running’ from that feeling of ‘not being good enough’.

 For four days the pace was fast and the sights were non-stop amazing.  A true 180 from the slow Texas crawl.  Neal and I went with another couple to New York and though I had been a number of times before I hadn’t been in nearly 12 years.  Every chance that was given I was meeting new people, asking where they were from, how long had they been in New York, etc.  We managed to hit all the must see highlights in the city and by Sunday morning on the death-defying taxi ride back to La Guardia Airport we were tuckered out and ready to see our families.

Neal, Michelle and 'SoulTaker' (he insisted I call him this...which is comically only because he is the furthest from anything sinister. I should call him 'bubba bear' ) waiting in line at the La Guardia Airport for a taxi. They should make this a ride at DISNEY beause I ended up just as GREEN in the end!!

At the 911 Memorial. Just after taking this picture a plan flew over very close to the side of the new building...the moment was surreal. Made my flesh crawl.

This is the South Tower footprint memorial...powerful.

A close up of the engraved names

It is good to leave the 911 memorial and be reminded of our LIBERTY AND FREEDOM!!

Not such a good feeling to be reminded of our National Debt.....

Now when I say 'It's like Grand Central Station!' I can actually know what I'm talking about!

And you can't miss out on the view from the Empire State building at midnight!

We had a lapse in judgment here and thought it would be 'cool' to try the bike ride through the city from the Empire State Building back to our hotel in Time Square...I know I have some undone purpose to fulfill because it's amazing I'm still alive!!

It was a whirlwind trip but a great time to enjoy our friends and be reminded of all of the different walks of life!  And it helped me to appreciate the gift I have in being a ‘Texan’…we take our time and take it all in. Plus it helped me to appreciate where I am today -good enough and not needing to run. 

I’m sure many of you can instantly name the movie that made this quote famous.  I know my husband can  recite several other lines from Forest Gump that struck him as humorous or possibly even poignant.  There are many movies that my husband can recite near verbatim but I never seem to find the ‘value’ to what he finds important to remember – such as Blazing Saddles.  That’s right, if you are a fan I apologize but I am admitting that I never have watched more than a five minute segment not only because I guess I don’t get the humor but also because Neal is often in the room and saying the lines before que. 

There are a few movies, though, that a line will jump out and stick.  Often, for me, it is because it has tickled a place in my conscience that awakens a thread of thought that can often bring about a fabulous ‘ahaa’ moment.  For instance, a week or so ago I watched Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  There were definitely parts in this movie where I had to literally cover my eyes and even plug my ears because of triggering scenes.  But there was a scene at the very end of the movie with a subtle line that didn’t just tickle my conscience but literally leapt out and slapped me awake.  I wish I could remember it verbatim as Neal has a knack for but the gist of it is this, the character speaking is a serial killer who is referring to his victims and how he was able to capture them:

“They always put the need to not offend my feelings ahead of their own gut feeling of danger.”

When I heard this, as I mentioned, it truly slapped me.  How I embodied this very statement.  I had this need to make sure no one was upset with me, or that I wouldn’t hurt someone else’s feelings by running away, or demanding a ride home, or simply leaving the situation because what if it was just me? What if my gut is wrong and then I look like the fool and have made them feel bad or worse, look bad?  Except every time my gut was never wrong.

I met with a young woman yesterday who is struggling with a very recent victimization.  Her main struggle isn’t what physically happened to her, what she struggles with at this time is that she feels it is her fault because she went with him.  As I talked her through this very valid and common reaction (that almost 99% of victims have) I heard her tell me that she ‘went with him because she didn’t want to hurt his feelings’ even though she felt in her gut that something wasn’t right.  Now she struggles with the fact that she went with him when she had the chance to walk away.  IT IS STILL NOT HER FAULT.  He forced himself on her and she did NOT ask for it or offer it. 

It is in that very millisecond of a moment to choose the gut feeling over the societal pressure to please and not make a scene that a victim’s guilt erupts like a mushroom head on an atomic bomb.  “I knew better.  Why didn’t I…” plays like a broken record in our minds as we begin to find a safe place to heal.

What I told this young woman yesterday, and what I try to tell myself daily, is this: “You can not go back and change what has been done but you can move forward and learn to pick you over them.”  What is needed is a change in internal dialogue.  Instead of, ‘What if he gets mad, or upset, or what will they think of me?’ it should be ‘I don’t want to so I won’t.  Or something isn’t right about this so I’m not.  Or I don’t care what they all think because it doesn’t match up with what I’m thinking and I trust myself more.’

I like to think of that ‘gut feeling’ or ‘little voice’ as the Holy Spirit within us giving us Divine Direction. It’s like a muscle that gives us strength to carry the struggles life throws at us. Just like any muscle we need to train ourselves to use it, to get stronger and then we can begin to see it take shape and form into a part of our body so that it all flows together and becomes effortless.

Train yourself to listen to your gut.  The benefits are miraculous.

Blessings

Shannon

My mind was clear when I was awake so I knew I couldn’t be depressed.  I knew what that felt like.  However, the doctor checked me out and all of my levels were perfectly fine.  My situation became clear one afternoon when I met up with a spiritual advisor and for the first time in months, I mean many many months, I began to cry.  Obviously the sheer emotional stress I’ve been under with the sitaution with WinePress and also carrying the load of helping a few other people out with their own very deep emotional situations left me wearing the burden physically. 

Like a plug being pulled from a dam once they started the tears kept coming.  The damn hasn’t broken (not yet).  I haven’t been boo-hooing all over the place but it seems for once I am fine to take a moment and allow the tears to flow in silence.  It is as if my emotional tank needed to let out some of the excess in order to make room for everything that was coming in.

I know at some point I deserve to hide away for a quiet moment, just the Lord and I, and open up the dam to empty it out a bit but that will come in time.   What has helped tremendously is finally being BACK ON TRACK.  I am enjoying my new website!  Thanks to John Flynn at Kickstart Media who has been so very patient with me and who has done a phenominal job on this site.  And thanks to Tina and Diane at B&B Media who have also been very patient and helpful as we prepare for the re-release of EXPOSED in a few weeks.

The biggest change you have seen on this site is that it is now called HOPEFUL HEARTS MINISTRY.  Everything I do is through the ministry now and I need your help!  Please take the time and take a look at the ABOUT HOPEFUL HEARTS page to learn more about the ministry.

Also, another added feature is the PRESS KIT pdf that is located under the MEDIA page.  Check it out as well…I was given some very good questions to answer by a few people that might be beneficial to many.  It is one of the last pages of the kit.

Thank you for your patience in these past few weeks!  There ain’t no stopping me now!

Blessings

Shannon

The MGN was founded in 2004 by Catholic survivors of sexual abuse. We are a 501(c)(3) faith-based, non-profit, self-help support network for victims of all abuse of any faith.

All victims of abuse need love and support.

It doesn’t matter if the abuse was physical, sexual, emotional, spiritual or mental.

It does not matter who the abuser was, whether it was a relative, a friend, a spouse, a minister, a priest, a nun, a rabbi, a teacher, a coach, or a stranger, we welcome you.

We are survivors and friends of survivors who understand the need to experience the healing power of Jesus Christ.

We are not after money. Money is irrelevant when your soul has been destroyed.

We are not out for revenge. We have found that the hate and anger towards those who harmed us prevents us from a full recovery. We leave vengeance to God.

Our sole interest is in helping our brothers and sisters experience healing in God’s love.

To learn more about the Maria Goretti Network, or to find out how you can form a chatper at your parish or church please visit their official website at

www.mgoretti.org

I am proud to be their spokesperson and have helped to form a Maria Goretti Network chapter at

St. Martha’s Parish in Kingwood, Texas. If you would like to contact us about our meetings email stmarthamgn@gmail.com

For the past four months I have been anticipating the ability to be able to share with you what is going on in my world behind the screen.  My blog, Just Show Up, has always been genuine summaries of my days and how God has shown up in the dramatic winds and in the gentle whispers.  My voice is my ministry and for all of you who have followed me up to this point you know that I tell all with the intent to give hope, healing, and encouragement to everyone.

In January, when I signed on with B&B Media I moved my ministry forward into a more solid direction and created

HOPEFUL HEARTS MINISTRY – Offering the Hope of Christ’s Light and Love to those who are suffering.

The purpose of making this a non-profit ministry is to use the funds I receive via speaking/books/etc to take the ministry to those who wouldn’t be able to afford the books or get the opportunity to hear me speak such as more women’s penitentiaries, women’s and teen shelters, etc.

By the grace of God my friend who was a catalyst for linking me to B&B Media is also a lawyer and he helped set up the new ministry and get me started for the 501 c3 Non-profit application.  Less than a week later I was told I also needed an accountant to help with the filing and I literally ran into a parent of a teen I’d ministered who is a CPA and offered to help out the organization pro-bono as well.  Everything was falling into place and I could feel the hand of God in every decision being made.

In the third week of January my publicist forwarded a story she was given that was written by Athena Dean who founded WinePress Publishing, the company that published my book EXPOSED in 2010.  I was in the process of contacting them about doing a second run of books for the national media release B&B was working on.

It takes one breath of a second for plans to change.

In her blog Not Afraid To Tell My Story, Athena explains in bullet point detail about the demise of WinePress Publishing into the hands of the Sound Doctrine Church (aka: cult).  Yes, you read that correctly.  Cult.  It is too much to revisit here at this time but I do implore you to read Athena’s story to get a broader picture of the betrayal even I feel and I wasn’t within their grasp.  I will say, I can’t ignore the irony of the fact that I, someone who is living her life to be a warrior for those who have suffered in all areas of life especially through abuse,  somehow managed to trust this group that professes to ‘Hate for Jesus’.  When I read the very last words of her story a literal chill ran down my spine:

“I am simply sharing what happened to me based on the following scripture:

Ephesians 5:11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”

The irony gets deeper.

Once I read through the blog I called my publicist and declared, “GET ME OUT!”  How could I have not known I was working with people who were doing to others exactly what I was trying to help others to survive?  Every name Athena mentions in her story I have worked with on the publishing and marketing of EXPOSED.  Every single person.  And at the moment of reading her story I was communicating with Malcolm Fraser on doing a reprint.

Praise be to God that I now had a lawyer on hand (my dear friend, whom had he never heard me speak, read the book and then felt  the call to help further my ministry I would have never known about the secrets behind WinePress until it was too late and my book would have been caught in the legal crossfire.)  By the next week I managed to get out of my print contract with WinePress Publishing.  But this small victory did not come without a price.  One of which was the need to find a new publisher, start all over again and come up with a new cover.

God always prevails because I think I like this cover better.

The next step was to fight the longer termed eBook contract.  Malcolm held strong and I was unable to get out of the contract.  Frustrated, I put it in God’s hands and have let it go.  The content of my book will remain the same, so whether someone chooses to read it through an eReader or buy the new edition I pray God will prevail in the message.  The fact that any part of an eBook sale of my book goes towards the cult is a fact I can’t wrap my mind around at this time.  This is how I felt simply because of the emotional and spiritual abuse they were charge with inflicting upon so many…and then this week there was more news.

I truly can’t wrap my mind around the latest new shocking announcement:  Sound Doctrine Church/WinePress Publishing – Malcolm John Fraser charged – 1st degree rape of a child

This leaves me speechless.  No words can describe what I feel. Yes, this is the man that I was working with, the man that won’t let me out of the eBook contract, the man that said they have a ‘No Gossip’ policy and asked if I was getting out of my contract because of ‘rumors’.  Well, now they aren’t rumors.  He was charged.  I am free to have my voice and write about this because I’m not spreading anything that isn’t already common knowledge.  Granted he is ‘charged’, not yet convicted, and I acknowledge that…

I can’t fathom the fact that my book has allowed this man and this cult to profit in any way from EXPOSED, the very book that speaks of the ramifications of the form of evil that this man and ‘church’ have been charged.

Now, more than ever, I want to reach out to the suffering.  Just this week I’ve been dealing with those who suffer from dealing with death and those who are in such deep depression they don’t know how to live.  I would love to find a way to reach out and help those who have been victims of human trafficking (largest hub here in Houston). There is so much suffering but there is more than enough hope to pull them through.  “Hope against hope,” Romans 4:18.

Despite the emotional and virtual chaos this has thrown me into I look forward to what is to come.  By May 1, 2012 you will see a new face to this website.  It will be www.hopefulheartsministry.com (still accessible by shannonmdeitz.com) and I pray to get back on a solid genuine track with the JUST SHOW UP blog.  Just Show Up will also be featured as a PODCAST on www.CatholicRevolver.com (more information to come) and the new improved 2nd Edition of EXPOSED:  Inexcusable Me…Irreplaceable Him will be available!

Thank you for your continued support and encouragement.  I look forward to ending 2012 with a bang, visiting many of you, speaking at conferences, at your parishes, leading retreats, and finishing REDEEMED, the follow-up to EXPOSED.

I still have dates available for the 2012 – 2013 calendar if you are interested I would love to come spread the message of hope and survival!  Email booking@shannonmdeitz.com for more information.

Plus,  sign up for the HOPEFUL HEARTS MINISTRY NEWSLETTER and receive information on the ministry, encouraging quotes, ideas to lift your spirit and other great blessings.

And please be sure to follow me on twitter #shannondeitz, and Facebook – ShannonMDeitz

Most importantly please pray for all the unfortunate souls who got caught up in the twisted lies of those who ran Sound Doctrine.  They are all victims in their own right.

Blessings

Shannon

I knew our kids were in good hands.  What a blessing to be able to have your priest be in on this important discussion!  What caught me off guard was the discussion that ensued once Ryan came home from school.  I knew he was perceptive but I had no idea a typical ‘birds and bees’ lesson would lead us down the discussion of the cause of abortion (ie: the psychological ramifications of a young woman’s life that could ultimately lead her to that decision), men upholding the dignity of women, and the cause of 1/2 of marriages ending in divorce.

It is in these sudden, unexpected moments of conversation that I have to remember to breathe.  I know that they are rare so I tried to be careful with the words I chose because I knew this would be something he would potentially remember.  This entire conversation happened in a 10 minute period on the way to his track practice.  When he hopped out of the car he smiled and said, “Love you Mom!”  My heart skipped a beat.  I wanted to call him back in and say ‘Forget track, let’s keep talking.’

An hour later I picked him up and we rode in silence for a few minutes.  I tried to figure out a way to start the conversation again but, to my surprise, he asked this question: “Do all Christians believe it is a sin to have sex before marriage?”

“Yes,” I said, wondering where his mind was at this particular time.

“Then why do so many people do it?”

Choosing my words carefully (because he did read my book) I said, “Well, Ryan, I’m sure there are many different reasons for each person.  I know many people have the intent to keep themselves pure for marriage and then they get too close to the one they love and…well, it’s a chemical thing.  Sex is meant to be good and enjoyable.  God created it for a man and wife to bring life out of their love for one another but sometimes those same good feelings can cloud a person’s judgment.”

I couldn’t look at him but I wanted to bring it up.  I needed to talk about what he had read in my book.  “You know, I wanted to keep myself pure for marriage but there were times those feelings got the best of me and I made some mistakes.”

“Mom,” Ryan interrupted me.  “I know and I know what that guy did to you and that was not your fault.  None of those guys should have ever treated you that way.  What they did to you was wrong.  No girl should be treated that way.”

We were almost home and I didn’t want to be. For years as I’ve watched my boys grow I’ve been wondering how to make sure I brought them up to be gentleman.  I didn’t have to wonder anymore.

Over the lump in my throat I managed to say, “Thank you, Ryan.  You are right.  And I made my own bad decisions as well.   That is why it is so important for you to respect a young woman even when she isn’t respecting herself.”

“I know, Mom.”

And then we were home and the conversation abruptly ended.

In an hour I will be leaving with Ryan to attend a BETA convention in Austin, TX.  We will have the next two days together so hopefully we can pick up more of this conversation.  Even if that is all I get for a while I do believe I have been blessed with one perceptive young gentleman.

(Granted, he isn’t perfect!!! There are areas that we need to work on but I’ll take these moments of clarity every now and then!)

Blessings

Shannon

I answered via email but decided to share some of those questions and answers with you via the Video Blog.

A Survivor’s Truth

Blessings

Shannon

What is it Jesus is calling me to as he hung on the cross in great agony?  What is the truth of his words as he cried out, “Forgive them Lord, they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34 ?

It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit grant me the wisdom to articulate what it is that I feel called to share.

You see, my struggle is in this battle we seem to have with defending our morals and beliefs vs destroying someone’s spirit and trying to define when it is we are called to reach out with love rather than react with hate?

For instance, there is a great battle going on with legalizing same sex marriage vs. keeping the sanctity of marriage as directed by Christian beliefs between a man and woman.  This is where I get confused because it no longer becomes a ‘defend vs. destroy’ battle but rather a ‘love or hate’ battle.  We can take the stand and choose to vote and NOT accept same sex marriage but do we need to boycott companies ultimately affecting thousands of families?  How far do we take this stand?

You see, my younger sister is gay.  She was once married and has three little boys but the marriage ended in divorce.  Not long after the divorce she came out to our family.  This was about three years ago.

My initial reaction was bewilderment.  I can’t say I had no clue but I can say that it just wasn’t on my radar. Then came the battle I’ve been referring to… she asked if she could bring the woman she was involved with to a Christmas gathering.  My reaction was to be on the defensive. My boys were young, they barely grasped getting over their uncle no longer being in the picture, how do I introduce a romantic involvement between my sister and another woman when they didn’t even know about sex yet?  And what should my reaction be when I both love my sister but believe strongly in the faith and morals that God is calling me to?  Set aside that I am a public figure teaching about these beliefs not only with my words but with my actions (and reactions)?

My response was to talk with my sister and be honest about how I felt and this situation.  I told her I loved her but to please give it some time before making it obvious to my boys.  She respected my wish.  Another family member was not so thrilled with my request.  I was yelled at, accused of ‘just being religious’ and that I was a fool to think my kids didn’t know about these things yet.  I’m no fool.  What got to me was I was being told that I couldn’t have my opinion…that I had to adhere to their opinion despite the fact I was trying my best to love and accept even when it was uncomfortable and this person couldn’t take the time to see my side even when my sister could.

Over the next few years I struggled with this new dynamic.  My oldest son, having known more than my youngest, obviously figured it out and we had a great discussion about our call to love and the church’s teaching on ‘not condoning the sin but loving the sinner’.  There are still a few things I don’t back down from because it goes against my moral beliefs and what Neal and I agree is the way to set an example for the boys.  For instance, I don’t believe they should stay in the same room in my home when visiting…if they were a male and female couple and not married I would have the same request.

Now, my sister and her girlfriend might read this and be upset at that statement because recently they have had a commitment ceremony.  Not legal in Texas but to them it is all the same.  They even introduce each other as ‘my wife’.  Is this hard for me?  Yes.  Absolutely.

This is where the confusion really sets in.  I love my sister.  I love my nephews.  I even have grown very fond of her girlfriend, she is a great person, great to my sister, great to my nephews and to us as a family.  I don’t hate her.  I don’t despise her.  I don’t wish her harm.  Can I call them ‘wife and wife’?  No.  Why?  Because it goes against my moral fiber.

Do I think same sex marriage should be legalized?  No.  But will I boycott a company that is supporting the laws of their local government?  No.  If I did that would be harming the many people who have jobs with this company (including a friend of mine) who are supporting families in this tough economy.

Here is my issue.  I do believe we should take a stand about the issues against human life.  Is it affecting a person or group of people?  We take a stand against abortion – BUT don’t hate the young woman who aborted.  Love her and help her find her way to forgiveness and the loving arms of Christ.  We take a stand against abuse (rape, sexual, physical, emotional abuse) – BUT don’t become a vengeful people, reach out to the victims and offer an ear so they can expose their experience, be a hand to guide them out of the enemy’s snare, be a shoulder for them to cry on.  Take a stand against genocide.  Take a stand against human trafficking.  Take a stand against hunger.  Take a stand against poverty.

But can I say I’ll ‘take a stand’ against same sex marriage?  I guess when it hits so close to home it is hard to say yes even when I’m sure many of you are yelling right now, “Yes! Of course! You are Catholic!  The enemy is using this as a way to continue defiling society’s moral fiber!  What about the Sacrament of Marriage?  Is anything not held sacred?”   Yes, yes, I know…which is why when it is so close to home it is so hard to find the line.

And this is when I feel like I’m on that cross with Christ, my heart breaking with love, “Forgive them Lord, they know not what they do.”

I won’t change my sister, and I certainly won’t change her girlfriend.  And I won’t allow this to become a family feud that tears a family apart, ostracizing me from my sister, my boys from their cousins and splitting an already torn family into shreds.

But I will love.  I will continue to get to know my sister’s significant other and hopefully she and I together can continue to find that common ground we’ve already touched upon.  I will continue to be who I am and believe what I believe and hold true to the Catholic teachings.  And the greatest of these is to love:

He (Jesus) said to him,“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it:You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Matthew 22:37-39

Enjoy this blessed Easter weekend and may you be surrounded with His love and peace.

Blessings

Shannon