M
mls2593
Guest
I am a college student and about halfway through high school I began to have the desire to truly grow in my relationship with God. I made many mistakes beforehand in the physical aspect of relationships and in underage drinking, and I continued to make these mistakes throughout high school and in my first year of college, mostly simply from giving into pressure.
During this time I had friends who were taking part in these same things, though most of them began doing these things after me, and I still am friends with them today. While I haven’t continued to make these choices in my own life, premarital sex, underage drinking, and drugs are still present in their lives.
At this point in my life I love my faith. I love growing closer to God each day and I love learning about Catholicism, as I make up for lost time since I didn’t pay as much attention as I should have to the teachings growing up.
I want my friends and family of course to have this same source of peace and joy in their own lives. However, I naturally am fairly shy and while I am coming out of myself more and more I still have never been one to put very much pressure on people about matters of faith. I have kept it pretty personal except for those close to me. I want to talk with friends and family, and whoever I am building new friendships with, about God and help them grow closer to him as well.
I wonder though about the most effective way to do this. I know that sharing my own story is a good start, and I know that simply showing I care is the first step. But in being excited about my faith and talking about things I am learning I don’t want to simply be that odd friend who is really religious and holds onto all of these old-school ideas. I say that for two reasons. Yes, I do care about what people think of me and sometimes I care too much. That’s where many of my problems in high school came about. It’s a work in progress. Also though, and perhaps more so, I don’t want people to simply start tuning out and not listening to what I’m trying to share with them because they feel that I talk about my faith too much.
I don’t feel like I hide my faith, but I’d like to share it more than I do because I simply want to encourage family, friends, and those I grow close to in the future to grow in their own relationship with God.
So, any insights from your own experience on effective ways of sharing your faith and witnessing to God in everyday life? It can be with lapsed Catholics, other Christians, and non believers alike.
During this time I had friends who were taking part in these same things, though most of them began doing these things after me, and I still am friends with them today. While I haven’t continued to make these choices in my own life, premarital sex, underage drinking, and drugs are still present in their lives.
At this point in my life I love my faith. I love growing closer to God each day and I love learning about Catholicism, as I make up for lost time since I didn’t pay as much attention as I should have to the teachings growing up.
I want my friends and family of course to have this same source of peace and joy in their own lives. However, I naturally am fairly shy and while I am coming out of myself more and more I still have never been one to put very much pressure on people about matters of faith. I have kept it pretty personal except for those close to me. I want to talk with friends and family, and whoever I am building new friendships with, about God and help them grow closer to him as well.
I wonder though about the most effective way to do this. I know that sharing my own story is a good start, and I know that simply showing I care is the first step. But in being excited about my faith and talking about things I am learning I don’t want to simply be that odd friend who is really religious and holds onto all of these old-school ideas. I say that for two reasons. Yes, I do care about what people think of me and sometimes I care too much. That’s where many of my problems in high school came about. It’s a work in progress. Also though, and perhaps more so, I don’t want people to simply start tuning out and not listening to what I’m trying to share with them because they feel that I talk about my faith too much.
I don’t feel like I hide my faith, but I’d like to share it more than I do because I simply want to encourage family, friends, and those I grow close to in the future to grow in their own relationship with God.
So, any insights from your own experience on effective ways of sharing your faith and witnessing to God in everyday life? It can be with lapsed Catholics, other Christians, and non believers alike.