My parents divorced about seven years after my first communion. This ushered in a very confusing period in my life, a time filled with trials. As children of divorce, my siblings and I had many adjustments to make. Since “home” was no longer our family home, we had to move and we lost the community of friends we’d been blessed by for 10 years. We had new step-parents and step-siblings, new households and household rules, new schools. Within two years, the four of us kids were split apart, too. My older sister and I lived with mom. Our two younger siblings lived with dad and his new wife. I felt an even greater sense of loss when this happened.

When the Catholic Church no longer welcomed my divorced mom, I became convinced that some sins are not forgiven by God. I’ve since learned this is not correct, but sadly the evil one used this misunderstanding and snatched away the seeds of faith that been sown earlier in my life. As I conformed more and more to the ways of the world, I became involved in things that took me further and further away from God, down paths that lead to poor decisions, destructive behavior and despair. I prayed sometimes, but I didn’t have any real conviction that God heard me.

I know now that He was pursuing me all along! It was His Holy Spirit that shouted at me over my worldly ways. I was awakened when I experienced something that could only have come from God…(Link to Pursued & Awakened )

LINKS TO THE SEASONS IN MY JOURNEY WITH GOD:
Season 1: Baptized & Taught
Season 2: Loss & Lost
Season 3: Pursued & Awakened
Season 4: Welcomed & Transforming
Season 5: Proclaiming