I am a daughter of God. I am a young woman of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids — and, unlike any animals that roam the earth, I also possess a soul. I was a daughter, I am a daughter, and will become a beloved daughter of God. I was a daughter because God, as a loving Father, brought me into existence, as can be said for all humanity — though some go to great lengths to deny such a belief. However, on a deeper level, in the true sense of the word, I became — as I grew physically, emotionally, and above all spiritually — the daughter I am this very moment. I am a daughter, in the sense that in life I have grown ever closer to my Father. And the most wonderful concept is that I can never stop growing in knowledge of and in love for my Father and so will become a dear daughter of our Father in Heaven.
I might come across as silly, and a bit odd. Some people might think of me as naive. I write all about my faith and God. Some might think that topics such as these are too personal to write about, and to be read. But why not write about them? Why separate such a deep and profound part of myself and cast it to the side? My faith is everything to me. It is my center, my core, and a part of my identity. My faith, morals, and beliefs envelop my whole life. I don't live just to please others, or just to please myself. When I live for Christ and when I act as a true and devoted daughter, everything else falls into place: pleasing Him, pleasing others, and ultimately myself. Therefore, my whole existence is based on God. I was created by God, and for him I was created. Only by living for God will I find the truth and the happiness I am always, always seeking. His is the love that satisfies my thirst. He is my happiness and my joy each day.
I am a simple person, easily pleased with all the blessings God gives each day: a book to read at night by the dim light of a lamp; a cup of strong, hot coffee in the morning; a delicate kiss from the tiny lips of my baby sister; a favorite song blaring from the car radio; a quiet prayer offered to Jesus in the chapel; clean, soft, warm covers to collapse into after a long day; a big bowl of popcorn to eat, with an ice cold glass of Coke to drink while sharing a movie with friends and family. I love laughter, music, and dancing (although I am not very good). I find Life so beautiful, filled with so many small gifts each day.
The crosses, or sufferings, in life are also blessings to be embraced. Sometimes I have trouble embracing these crosses in life as lovingly as Jesus embraced His. I have never yet had a huge tragedy happen to me. Never has my house burned down; never have I lost a very close friend or family member; I have never been stricken seriously ill, or anything of the sort. However, sometimes the pain and suffering we have in life can come in small, yet bitter and stinging, cuts and scrapes.
Last year toward the end of the school year, there was a "Golden Day" in my life. On that day, I realized that the friends from my old school who had come with me to high school, to put it bluntly, no longer wanted to be friends. At least, they no longer wanted to share the close relationship we used to have together, the one I was still holding on to. They wouldn't return my phone calls, and when we would pass in the hallways or see each other at the end of Mass, they ignored my presence. I never had any huge arguments with them. I am not one to make a display of my feelings; rather I keep it bottled up inside. I never confronted them about what had been going on, so I suppose it was partly my fault. I wondered, was it I that had grown apart from them, or was it my friends who had grown apart from me, or both? When I would see them at school and at the parish, I felt lonely and hurt.
Now, as I look back, I want to thank Jesus for the pain because, mysteriously, through the suffering, I learned to unite my suffering with His. Jesus knew exactly what I was going through, because He too was betrayed by His closest friends. The trials in life are opportunities to learn to cling to Him rather than to fall into self pity. These trials and pains, along with the times of joy, bring me ever closer to Jesus, and they help me love Him even more. They also help me to greater appreciate all the good things and opportunities in life I am blessed with. After I surrendered, and let go of my old friendships, God blessed my life with many new and beautiful friends. It is funny how everything works out in the end, how God's plan unfolds before our eyes. I don't believe that it was just chance. Nothing in life is coincidence; it's God's hand at work.
I am a daughter of God first and foremost, however, He has also given me a family here on earth, and they mean so very much to me. I have a loving mom and dad, 3 younger sisters: 10, 7, and 3 and a younger brother who is 13.
I remember one Christmas Eve our family had absolutely nothing going on, no parties or festivities. All of us were together for the night. My dad led us in preparing a smorgasbord of food: fruit, including apples, oranges, and grapes; cheese and crackers; polish sausage; pizza; pierogies; and potato pancakes. Everyone helped bring our feast downstairs and we ate on TV tables. Sprawled all over the basement, we watched It's a Wonderful Life, Dad in the easy chair, Mom and me on the couch, and the kids playing Scrabble and Operation, on a mess of sleeping bags and blankets strewn on the brown carpet. All of us were tucked in our cozy, warm basement away from the snow and harsh weather outside. We celebrated and laughed together, lighting up the room. It's not much of a story, but one of the simple, happy moments I enjoyed, and I love recalling this scene because it reflects the warmth, safety, and happiness I feel in my family.
Not only am I blessed with a beautiful and loving family, but I am also surrounded with wonderful friends. I have a few close friends from my school community who I love dearly. We share the same interests and we love to laugh together. They are trustworthy and I know I can always depend upon them. I also have friends from my parish and youth group, who surround me each week. I love how, with them, I am able to express my faith more openly, and together we find joy in praising Jesus. Through my friends and family, the love revealed to me is just a portion of God's great and unending love.
God's love for His daughter is not only revealed through the friendships and family He has blessed my life with, but also all the opportunities He has given me. It seems all of the huge and significant events so far in my life occurred after I received my Confirmation in the Catholic Church. That day was a turning point in my life.
It was May 7, 2006, and the air was thick with anticipation. My hair was up in tight, brown curls, and I had my prettiest dress on. I headed down the aisle toward my pew, my red robe trailing behind me. What I have committed to memory though, was nothing of the preparation, or the buffet in celebration afterward.
When it was my turn to rise and go to the head of the Church, my sponsor asked me, "Are you ready?" as he led me out of the pew with a gentle, yet firm, guiding hand on my back. We stood and waited and finally the Bishop came to me.
"And what is your baptismal name?" his voice boomed.
"Lutgarde," I replied. Lutgarde was a saint who lived during the 1100's. I had chosen her because of her wonderful model of prayer and friendship with the Lord.
"Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit, Lutgarde," the Bishop said as he traced the sign of the cross with chrism oil onto my head. I remember the sweet, fragrant, and beautiful smell of the chrism oil enveloping me as the piano played. I was overwhelmed with love, happiness, and grace. I was like an empty glass and God just poured out His love into me, filling me to the brim. I was overflowing.
Though this was only a brief moment in my life, it set my path aflame. All of a sudden, God sent me so many wonderful opportunities and challenges. My family was able to send me to Catholic high school. I haven't been able to thank God enough for the gift of a Catholic education. Recently, I have gotten more involved in youth group and in my parish and became a lector and student minister.
About a year and a half ago, I had gone with my mom and a friend to hear a priest talk about Pope John Paul II's teaching on the Theology of the Body. In a nutshell, it's all about why God created us male and female, what it means to be human. It sheds light on love, marriage, and sex. It stresses the goodness of the body and brings to light a proper understanding of our sexuality according to God's plan. After hearing this message for the first time, I fell in love with it, and was able to bring the priest, Father Loya, to my parish to speak. Afterward, I heard him speak yet again at a local bookstore.
Father and his assistant were impressed with my answers to the questions Father posed to the audience, so they asked if I would be willing to work with them in giving witness to the teens Father speaks to. Since then, I have spoken to hundreds of teens about the Theology of the Body, modesty and femininity, and how to be a true woman of God.
God has given my family and me so much by bringing the Theology of the Body into our lives. It is a truly remarkable teaching, and has changed my way of viewing life and love. Traveling with Father has been such a gift. I have encountered so many people, with such interesting and inspiring stories.
In the future, I hope to attend the Franciscan University at Steubenville, because I know I want to study Theology. Perhaps I will become a youth minister, or Theology teacher, or a religious author. I have even thought about the religious life as a sister. I might continue to speak on the Theology of the Body.
I want to stay on my path to Christ. I love Christ! I love learning about His life and teaching others what I know. I love learning how to grow in intimacy with Him, and enjoy teaching others how, too.
I can't even begin to imagine all that God has in store for me. I am not certain of what lies ahead. However I do know one thing: I want to be a daughter of God.
[This article was submitted to CE by Sarah's mother, Kelly. It is adapted from a paper Sarah wrote for a school assignment. The Reznicek family lives in Lombard, IL, outside of Chicago.]
