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| Some of my parents’ grandchildren in front of our church in Florida |
When I get asked at what age did I become a Christian, my answer is “before I could even talk”. I was born into a Christian family – from my maternal grandparents down to the youngest grandchild (which is me) – we we raised in the Christian faith. Being born in New York, I was the youngest of my siblings and cousins. Most were already preteens or teenagers when I was born so I was truly the baby of the family. Some of my earliest memories involve us getting ready to go to Church on Sundays. I wore some of the most beautiful colorful big skirt ruffled dresses that were either bought in Downtown New York or wear handmade by Cuban seamstresses in Miami, FL. My family believed in the motto about wearing your “Sunday Best” for the Lord to church. We were usually one of the largest families to attend church with 10 family members consisting of just teens or young adults alone. We each held various positions within the church, i.e choir director, missionary worker, prayer group leader, women’s ministry leader, youth group leader, evangelism outreach coordinator, etc….the list can truly go on and on. A typical week could find us in church 3x – 4x times, including Sundays where we attended the morning and evening services. My mother had weekly women prayer and support group in our fully finished basement that had a kitchen. My parents would make meals for the ladies often who came straight from work (much like my mother did) to the group meeting. By the age of 3, I was singing and dancing (yes…I said dancing) in front of the entire church congregation (with a full choir behind me) to lively gospel songs and hymns in English and Spanish. (As most who know me can attest to, shyness is not an issue for me.) 🙂
Fast forward to years later and I am now a mother to my own family. No longer are my beloved, devout and faithful grandparents living on this earth and my family is spread out across the country. Yet I try my very best to hold fast to the sweet traditions and memories that “growing up in the church” can bring for my own children. Though we always look presentable and neat, we might not always be wearing our most “fanciest” clothing to church – doesn’t always work out with a teen son and toddler twin boys. I volunteer and work in my church in various aspects from the women’s ministry to helping to manage the church’s social media efforts. I have taught my children, especially my 13 year old son, to always volunteer and help out when needed in the church. Having a servant’s heart is something that I want all my children to learn.
Even with my biblical knowledge and long-time faith I hold in my heart, I readily admit that I made wrong choices in my life and have paid the consequences for youthful mistakes.
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Knowing and Accepting the Lord as my Savior and Redeemer
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Believing in His Grace and Mercy
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Accepting that I am not Perfect (no one but the Lord is) and Knowing that I will make Mistakes
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Despite my Flaws and Imperfections, I can still seek Him for Guidance, Direction and Forgiveness…Has always Put Me Back on the Right and Solid Path
Wonderufl testimony Joscelyn! I had never heard of “The Story” before but it looks great and would be good for Christmas presents. Thanks.
Great write-up! Looks like a cool CD for everyone.
This post truly reminded me of “growing up church” in Long Island. We used to work a lot in the church and go several times to church a week too, my uncle actually become the pastor of our childhood church.
Great read!