ALWAYS GIVE WITNESS | Rev. 12:11
BY JIM GELLER
My wife told me to use our past for good and for God.
When I was nine years old, my father died. I was told to go to my room at 8p.m. I listened to him dying until 1:00a.m. His room was right next to mine. I never came out nor had a chance to say good-bye. After that, I lived with my grandma for a large portion of the time. My mom had to start working. Grandma urged me to continue to go to church but I was angry at God.
When I was 16, my grandma died. Before my grandma went into a coma, she told me three
things: 1) "If you want to see me in heaven, Jimmy, you must balance
your scales", 2) "You will go back to church someday"; and, 3)
"Jimmy, I love you."
I am not very good at the Bible - especially the Old Testament with all those big words. But years went by - like I was wandering in the desert. A
few years ago, my wife came home and said "I have a surprise for you. I
joined RCIA today." I wasn't sure what that was- I was thinking maybe
an old brand of TV! But that became the catalyst for my change.
We
had initially been married in the Lutheran church. So the process of
our Annulment took some time. It was difficult because I could not take
Communion. I felt so much pain and would cry as I knelt and watched
others go up. I did not realize how much I wanted this.
When our previous pastor was here, he gave us Catholic rites of marriage and we were finally able to take Communion. One of my co-workers said to me a few months ago "Why aren't you living your faith?" I was taken back. He was faith-based but not a Catholic!
Now,
I am very blessed to have St. Peter's and Father Jeff McBeth as my pastor. I am very blessed to be a member of the Knights of Columbus - like my father. I am very blessed to be a part of the IGNITE group.
I
am very blessed to be a part of the Core Mission Group - with all their
prayers, wonderful support and faith in the Holy Spirit and
discipleship.
And, I am very blessed to be married to my wife, Trenda, who keeps me on track. My grandma was right. I came back to the Church. I am back home!
Thank you and God Bless!
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Jim Geller is a parishioner at St. Peter, Huron.
God has impacted your life. Give Him thanks by sharing it! This is how we encourage one another (1 Thes. 5:11) and defeat the Enemy (Rev. 12:11). Send 500 words or less to Alive@MassImpact.us
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