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Esther
Member
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Kansas City, Kansas USA |
| Posts: | 147 |
| First Name: | Esther | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist to Roman Catholic 11/26/06 |
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Posted: Thu Nov 16th, 2006 09:56 pm |
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Sorry to post another prayer request so soon. I just got a letter from my Grandmother. She is very upset about me becoming Catholic. She said some very hurtful things. This is going to make my family situation worse. On top of it Thanksgiving is coming up, I am not sure if I am invited yet or not. But if I am and I go it will be very awkward. Please pray for me to have wisdom of what to say and not to say but most of all for peace.
Thank you all for your support.
In Christ,
Esther
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David W. Emery
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 2072 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Nov 16th, 2006 10:12 pm |
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Esther, you should go. At the very least they will be able to see that you have not turned into a frog. You are the same person you were and you still worship the same God.
As to what to say: why say anything? They will talk whether you are there or not, but they probably won’t listen. So whatever you might say will be words wasted. Silence is very peaceable, and it imitates our Lord before his accusers.
May the Holy Spirit be with you throughout.
David
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SBC2RCC
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | York, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 126 |
| First Name: | Monte | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | was Southern Baptist Minister, now Roman Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Nov 16th, 2006 10:16 pm |
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You are in my prayers also, And ditto on imitating Jesus before his accusers.
____________________
In Christ,
Monte W
(Formerly on CHN Forum as "Pilgrim Paul"
Minima Maxima Sunt
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JillD
Member
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Visalia, California USA |
| Posts: | 767 |
| First Name: | Jill | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | heathen, EvFree, Messianic, LC-MS, Catholic 2007 |
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Posted: Thu Nov 16th, 2006 10:26 pm |
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I bet they'll feel as uncomfortable about "the elephant in the room" as you are, but pretend it isn't there and just go and love them and smile and be filled with joy and enjoy the feast. If they ask anything about your conversion, answer briefly and lovingly and truthfully and let it go. And then change the subject!
(I'm probably going to be needing this advice myself before too long. Not everyone knows what I'm doing, but they soon must.)
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"I praise you, for I am wondrously made. Wonderful are our works! My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret." Ps 139
"Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men." Ps 140
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Esther
Member
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Kansas City, Kansas USA |
| Posts: | 147 |
| First Name: | Esther | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist to Roman Catholic 11/26/06 |
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Posted: Fri Nov 17th, 2006 12:17 am |
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Thank you all for your replies and prayers. It is not that I won't go, I am not sure if I am invited. The situation is not very good right now. I doubt I will be at this point. I have brought them a lot of shame in this. If I am invited, rest assured, I would go. Maybe not for the whole day, but at least to dinner. It is all I can do to show them I love them besides prayer. I cannot respond to them the same way they responded to me.
There is so much pain in this. I've lost my family. I know God and time can heal this, but for now I have lost my family. My grandma of all people. I just didn't think it would come to this. I guess I just under estimated the situation.
God bless you all and thanks again for your prayers.
Esther
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Talithacumi
Member
| Joined: | Sat Sep 30th, 2006 |
| Location: | Eastern Ohio, USA |
| Posts: | 267 |
| First Name: | Cheri | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle Catholic - Latin Rite |
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Posted: Fri Nov 17th, 2006 01:52 am |
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Esther wrote: ...I just didn't think it would come to this. I guess I just under estimated the situation.
God bless you all and thanks again for your prayers.
Esther
Esther, I hear you! It hurts to be shunned. I know. My ex-bf's family literally shunned me because I was Catholic. In the beginning they had accepted me, though it seemed a tenuous acceptance (some of them had never accepted me). Once they realized that I was not going to leave my church to join him in his, they wanted nothing to do with me. I had told him many times that I would be willing to go to church with him - and even help out in his "ministry" - as long as I wasn't expected to go against my Catholic beliefs and as long as I could also go to my own church. But that wasn't good enough. Not for his family, his pastors, or (probably largely influenced by them) himself. They wanted me to turn my back on Catholicism altogether. At any rate, except for maybe the first few montsh, I was not invited to their family dinners or gatherings or holidays or anything. It was tough. My family never acted that way. They were never quite certain that my bf and I were a good fit, but they knew I loved him, so he was always welcome in my family circle. In the end we broke up because of our religious differences.
Until the time I'd met him, I'd never known such anti-Catholicism existed. I'd heard about it, but one never really knows... until one experiences it in their own life.
Be assured of my continued prayers.
JMJ
- Cheri
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“We do not want a Church that will move with the world; we want a Church that will move the world.”
- G.K. Chesterton
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5347 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Fri Nov 17th, 2006 02:11 am |
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One thing you could say is, "I've never heard a Catholic say anything bad about another religion." Then shut up. If they ask you a sincere question, answer it sincerely. If they attack the Church, turn the other cheek. Say, "I love you." Give them a kiss or a hug (whatever's appropriate) and let it pass.
In other words, be the better Christian. That's what Jesus would do. In fact, that's exactly what Jesus did (read John 6).
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Darlene
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 868 |
| First Name: | Darlene | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Christian, trusting His love and forgiveness |
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Posted: Fri Nov 17th, 2006 01:13 pm |
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Dear Esther,
I will keep you in my prayers. Don't apologize for requesting prayer. Pray at all times and unceasingly is what the scriptures say. And we as believers in Christ are to "weep with those who weep" and "rejoice with those who rejoice."
When did you convert to the Catholic faith? Is there anyone among your family or friends that is Catholic? What denomination is your grandmother and what faith were you raised in? What led you to your journey and how long did it take before you converted to Catholicism? I know, I asked a myriad of questions.
We have this comfort in knowing that many here on this forum are going through the same struggles. I dread to think of the time when I will have to deal with all the negativity from my staunch Protestant friends. And I know that day is coming.
God Bless You Sister,
Darlene
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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. II Corinthians 13:14
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Esther
Member
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Kansas City, Kansas USA |
| Posts: | 147 |
| First Name: | Esther | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist to Roman Catholic 11/26/06 |
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Posted: Fri Nov 17th, 2006 02:12 pm |
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Darlene wrote: Dear Esther,
I will keep you in my prayers. Don't apologize for requesting prayer. Pray at all times and unceasingly is what the scriptures say. And we as believers in Christ are to "weep with those who weep" and "rejoice with those who rejoice."
When did you convert to the Catholic faith? Is there anyone among your family or friends that is Catholic? What denomination is your grandmother and what faith were you raised in? What led you to your journey and how long did it take before you converted to Catholicism? I know, I asked a myriad of questions.
We have this comfort in knowing that many here on this forum are going through the same struggles. I dread to think of the time when I will have to deal with all the negativity from my staunch Protestant friends. And I know that day is coming.
God Bless You Sister,
Darlene
Thank you for your prayers and for your support.
I posted my story in the "Conversion Story" section.
Darlene, it will be hard when you tell your friends, as most the people in here can testify to that. But God gives us the grace when the time is right. Even though I have a pit feeling in my stomach pretty much at all times, I have a tremendous amount of peace and confidence knowing I am doing what is right. I will be praying for you as well.
God bless you my sister.
Last edited on Fri Nov 17th, 2006 04:31 pm by Esther
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