Church

 I believe that there is only ONE church.  Before you read that and instantly think I am crazy, let me explain.  I have never been a person that I would call religious nor have I spent more than a hand full of times inside of a church.  I wasn't raised religious.  For each of us, our life is our church.  Life is what sculpts us and defines us until that final day.  Every person's life is different. Our suffering, our happiness, our homes, our choices, our food preferences, the ways we choose to raise our children, the friendships we make and keep, the trips we take, the careers we choose.  For each and every one of us, that is our individual church.  No church looks the same nor does it sing the same hymns.  But the lessons we learn and how we choose to proceed forward in our lives, is what our own church preaches.  We should not judge others for the way they conduct their own

.  We shouldn't be as narrow minded as to think that there is only one perfect congregation, because for our own, it absolutely is.  As long as the life you live is one that makes you happy, healthy and proud, your church is perfect.  

There are moments in every persons life that they can pinpoint that were self defining moments.  Something that happened in their life that is engrained in their very soul. A piece of their history that has defined important aspects of their life.  These moments are our church.  I, myself, have had so many of those moments.  Some so dark that most people wonder how I am still moving forward with a smile on my face.  They wonder how I can talk about my son without tears.  They wonder how I could ever trust another relationship.  They wonder how I can find the positive in the hardships without resentment and animosity.  My answer is always the same.  Because I have no choice.  I DID have the choice in how I moved forward though.  I could choose to be a miserable, angry person or I could choose to find the light.  There is always light.  Today's sorrows will not always be tomorrows anguish.  Tomorrow can be what we choose for it to be because it hasn't happened yet.  We cannot change the past.  I consciously choose to wake up each day and be thankful that I did.  I look around and have so much to be thankful for.  I am thankful for the 7 years that I was gifted with my son.  I am thankful for my two healthy, happy daughters.  I am thankful for the wonderful man who found us along the way.  I am thankful for my family and friends. I am thankful for my job and all that it has brought into my life.  My church.  Walls are not what build us.  What builds us, is our story; our own bibles, if you will.