I grew up in a family of 5. I was blessed with both of my parents and 2 sisters, one older and one younger. I’m a middle child so for seven years, I was the youngest, and I enjoyed the fruits of being the baby of the family. As a child, we did all the camping and bike rides, playing ball in the street… everything that I want to give my own children one day.

But as I got older, I developed a lot of resentment and fear toward discipline. Because I was so used to being provided for, I didn’t like to be corrected. So sinful parts of my character began to develop—laziness, selfishness, self righteousness. I was comfortable in my sin, and I didn’t want to grow up. That resistance started showing up in all areas of my life—my friendships, my school life, my family. Anywhere I was trying to find identity or connection, I was also struggling.

I took out my anger and judgment on my family. I became rebellious. And at times, that rebellion became dangerous to me and them. I put myself in situations that, looking back, I know that it was only through the grace of God in those moments that kept us safe.

There were so many things that I didn’t realize were influencing me and they started to take control of my life. The media I consumed distorted my concept of happiness and I started to look for fulfillment through the ways of this world. I didn’t see it at the time, but it was disobedience.

Eventually, that tension started to break me. And it started to break my family. There were times when I wanted to give up. But now I see… it was God’s plan all along. Through that breaking, He brought us into the church, and began to strengthen our relationship with Christ.

I grew up going to catholic school, mass on occasion, so i knew of God, but i wasn’t walking with him. And I don’t think that without those struggles, we would be where we are in our faith today, because God works in the darkness to bring you to the light. He guided me—and He guided my family—to Cornerstone, so that we could begin to heal through the gospel and learn the Word of God.

I understand now that we are born into sin. My thoughts are not his thoughts, and my ways are not his ways. Now I talk to God, in everything I do. He is with me now, and every day.

My father and I are able to properly love each other—through Jesus. And I truly believe it was His plan to bring us closer. I believe it was my purpose in life to bring my family closer to God. Through my struggle and through my rebellion. And I wouldn’t change that for anything.

I thought I had to overcome my struggles in life before I could get baptized, so that I could give the glory to God. But I know now that I can’t do it on my own, only God can clean my heart, so my baptism isn’t the end of my story or my struggles, but rather the first step in the right direction.