I think by now we have established a good enough friendship that you know that I am a devout Christian. Not only do I love my Lord, but I try my very best to live a life He would be proud of. And I plan on Mastering in Childhood Ministry. I was raised in the same small Southern Baptist church until I was a freshman in college. From the time that I was born until my parents divorced my mom taught Sunday school. My mom was at church every Sunday morning & evening and Wednesday evenings. When my parents divorced, my mom was shunned from the church. They told her they didn't know how to deal with divorce. But Mom continued to send us to church for everything.
Notice in all of that I never mentioned my dad being in church. This is because my mom begged my dad to come with us all the time, but he always had an excuse. On July 11th, 1999, I was baptized. My dad came to witness that, and decided to join the church that same day. I honestly believe he did this as a last attempt to save their marriage. They had already been split up most of the summer. I think we had just moved back into the house when all of this took place. (That was a bad summer so I've suppressed so many of those memories so well that I can't remember them even when I want to.) My parents kept us kids so in the dark about all of this though. Understandably so, considering I was 8 at the time. Which made my sister and brother 7 and 6. Anyways, that was one of the few times I remember my dad being present in church with us including holidays.
Until very recently, I always thought it was just because my dad didn't like the church. After some hard talks with my sister and a shocking revelation (shocking on my part that is), I have come to realize why my dad has never really been to church with us. And why he always had a demeaning manner about him when talking to me about my future career or made excuses why we weren't going to church the next morning when I would go visit him and his now-wife. My dad is Atheist. Apparently my sister has known for a long time. I guess I on the other hand never wanted to believe that so I never considered it. It explains why my dad always acted as if I have a holier-than-thou attitude though.
My dad grew up with two very loving and Christian parents and 4 brothers. I am not sure my dad and his brothers ever heard his parents cuss. In fact, I think the only word I have ever heard either one use was hell. They are in church every Sunday and my grandfather is a deacon. They read scripture daily and speak of the Lord often. I know for a fact those boys got up and got dressed for church every Sunday morning as long as the lived with my grandparents. It shocking to me that someone who lived that way doesn't believe.
I pray that my dad may one day believe and I hope to see him in Heaven. I'd hate to think he'd be burning in hell for the rest of eternity. But as of right now all I can do is continue to pray for him, and allow God to work around him. I can't even have a normal conversation with him (or a conversation at all for that matter) at the moment, much less talk to him about God. So all I can do is pray. I trust that this is all in God's plan.
May God continue to Bless you, and you continue to grow in Him!
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