I grew up in a house of many religions. My father came from Greece raised in a Greek Orthodox background. Even though my father came from a religious home he never posed himself as an overly religious man. When he came to the US and married my mother he didn’t encourage the idea of raising a family with the orthodox background.
The Greek Orthodox churches in US speak 50/50. Half the mass would be in Greek and half in American. My father wasn't very religious and he never bothered to teach me Greek so going to a Greek orthodox church wasn't very comfortable especially when you had no idea what they were talking about most of the time.
My mother came from a Jewish background, but never followed the Jewish religion. Her parents weren't religious at all. My mother would take me church hopping all the time as a kid. Lutheran, Baptist you name we were there! And most of my friends were catholic. I still remember sleeping over my friend Marie’s house on a Saturday night. The next morning her father would take us to church for morning mass. We would fall asleep on each others shoulders from staying up too late the night before. Her father would sit in back of us punching us in the shoulders to stay awake.
No matter what Church I went too the message was still the same. To live life loving yourself, loving and caring for the people around you and to make choices in life that would make Christ proud. We can’t be perfect. No one is, but the secret is to do your best. Failure only exists in the ones who choose to give up. The ones who try never fail. No matter what the outcome.
Years later, I married a faithful devoted catholic and now we raise our children catholic. I don't want them to grow up with a confused idea of religion like I had growing up.
But if you ask me I enjoyed the Baptist church the best because everything was quoted straight from the bible and when the pastor spoke he spoke with a love for Christ that I never have seen since then. I still remember him. What a sweet and caring man. He looked like the grandpa everyone wanted. He was always there for me in many times of confusion and in the obstacles intervened in my life. He was there to help.
I now go to church with my husband and we are raising our children catholic, but I haven't seen a pastor or priest talk about Christ with such compassion since then.
In my opinion, all roads lead to one God. There isn't any wrong or right religion. If it works for you and it gives you the strength, wisdom and serenity to live in happiness and the will to do good then so be it.
No one should judge another person or their belief. Take a step back to judge yourself. And improve your own life. Don’t waste time judging others.
For it is the one's who judge others. They are the ones who fear themselves and the person they have become.
May peace be with you and the world around you.
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Who is by our side through our highs and lows?
Who guides us to safety when we are lost?
Who will save you when you are in trouble?
The Fear of what others think carries inside within all of us,
The worries of what others think,
The concern of acceptance
Is it necessary to worry about what others think?
On the other hand, should we be concerned about what Christ thinks?
Is society forgiving?
Christ is,
Does society love you for who you are?
Christ does,
Does society love you and all your flaws?
Christ does,
When you fall and cannot get up who will save you
Christ will
About the Author:
Stacey Chillemi is the managing editor for the magazine UZURI. She is the author of Epilepsy You're Not Alone; Live, Learn, and Be Happy with Epilepsy; Epilepsy and Pregnancy: What Every Women Should Know; the children’s book My Mommy Has Epilepsy and My Daddy Has Epilepsy ; and two collections of poetry, Keep the Faith and Eternal Love. She has recently been featured in Woman’s World Magazine and the New Jersey Star Ledger. Her website is http://www.authorsden.com/staceydchillemi
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