"I would be devastated if my child didn't stay Catholic!"

[bmaj]

I was that child that left the Church.

I moved in with my boyfriend. I eventually married said boyfriend. But I married in a courthouse. I eventually made my way back to the Church. We were married by a priest, our son was baptized and has been raised Catholic. And we have now been married for over 20 years.

I am sure my mother was devastated. I know she prayed for me. And I know she was elated that I returned.

She did not coerce, manipulate, guilt, or control me into returning. She prayed for my return. And she was thrilled when did return.

And I see nothing wrong with that.

(Edited to change the placement of the last sentence. Somehow it got in the middle and didn’t make any sense.

How wonderful to read this about your return to the Catholic Church, Mary! And I’m so happy for your Mother also! Her prayers were truly answered in a beautiful way. I pray mine will be answered also in such a way some day, but I now leave it in God’s hands. And I also won’t coerce, manipulate, or try to control our grown child into returning. They know how we feel and saw the tears I shed. Now we continue to try to set a good Catholic example for them and pray for God’s will and our acceptance of it.
May God bless you and your family always!