A Faith Story by Christine Thompson

How has God brought me back to my roots of faith?

After the death of my husband, I believed that I could manage a large home, yard, work, babysit grandkids, etc., but I was only fooling myself. Seven years later, in April of 2015, I sold my home so quickly that I moved in with my daughter’s family, at her insistence. My realtor became my best friend over many months of house shopping. And, as it turns out, the first house I fell in love with fell into my budget, and I moved in a week before Thanksgiving, 2015.

The neighbors would wave but maybe were a little apprehensive of meeting this woman that was never home. At the time, I was working two jobs, my first job in the AM, and the hospital job in the PM. Gradually, over the months, I got to know a few of the people, but they were just as busy as me. Occasionally, I would see this guy, Mike, walking his dog George, and we would chat a little. He told me that he was preaching on Sunday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, and that I should stop out and hear him. (At the time, I was Catholic church shopping and still hadn’t found one that I liked.) So, I showed up at St Paul’s, and was impressed with the church, the congregation, and his sermon! And I was like, “maybe I found my church!”

Fast forward a few months, I was dating a not so nice guy; eventually I ended the relationship. Mike heard of our breakup, and called me, asking me out for dinner. I immediately responded by saying that I was not ready to date. And he replied, “I’m not asking you on a date…...I just want to go out to dinner and have good conversation!”. Well, of course I said yes, (and yes, I was hungry!) and the rest is history!

God has a hand in our life like chess pieces: some moves are slow and deliberate, and others are quick and slight of hand. He does answer our prayers, and most times what He gives us is not what we asked for, but what we need. I not only found my faith again, and a church, I found a wonderful, kind man to share the rest of my life with!