Columbus Cursillo at 641 Cusseta Hwy, Box Springs, GA 31801 US - My Life Is In Your Hands

Religion has always been a private part of my life. Growing up, it was never discussed – we did our Sunday duty and the rituals of Lent and Advent. My only recollection of praying together at home was before my First Communion – my mother sitting on my bed helping me memorize the Apostle’s Creed. When I was asked to give my witness talk, I began to think back upon my life. It took me many decades of living and I have come full circle – I think. Many years ago I lost my little daughter and now I realize that after that tragic event I turned from God and shut Him out – for many years until I made my Cursillo four years ago. The first “religious experience”, as I call it, happened when I was in college in my sophomore year. My declared major was very difficult and I wanted to change but did not know to what. My father told me to major in something useful or return home. I attended a Jesuit University where Mass was on-going daily. I usually attended the Mass at 4:00 PM and one week day I was in tears, upset about my studies. I remember it was a beautiful Mass, the Gregorian Chant was on going. All of a sudden, I heard the “voice of God” – major in medical technology. I felt so relieved and happy and the next morning I enrolled in that course of study. After all of these years I am still in that profession and love every day at work! My next religious experience came six years ago. My younger son had an unfortunate incident while he was processing out of the Marine Corp. He called me one evening in tears telling me what had happened. I was praying each day for him – to St. Jude and St. Rita. Then one evening I began praying to Padre Pio. And this sense of calm came over me and I knew everything would turn out all right – and it did. Nothing happened to my son; he left with an honorable discharge and no loss of rank. Padre Pio is “my” saint, to whom I pray daily and tell my children to do the same. I made my Cursillo in 2003 and it has been a life-altering weekend. At the point where we went before the crucifix on the altar and one by one laid all of our hurts and sorrows at the foot of the cross, I felt a heaviness lifted from me and I “opened” up, to let God into my heart and life. It was beautiful. The final step occurred in the spring of 2006. I met a man after Mass one Saturday and we befriended one another. He would not have been someone to whom I would speak in usual circumstances. He is deeply devout; simple in his material needs and thankful for all of God’s blessings to him. It was from him that I learned to say each day as I open my eyes in the morning, “God, my life is in your hands.” He also kept telling me that my life is beautiful and how blessed I am. I would pray the words in the beginning but not really mean it, or believe it. Now, during the day, I thank God multiple times because I have so many blessings in my beautiful life, and I thank God for finally realizing it and having the opportunity to be grateful to Him. Today, I have never felt more content, less anxious (I used to worry about money constantly) and free than I am now. My life is in God’s hands and I have come to believe and accept it. I wish this for all of you with all of my heart. It is a beautiful, blessed life!

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