I was saved at a young age, and have been in church all my life, so being a “Christian” came standard. Furthermore, my father is a pastor, so the stigma of being a “preacher’s kid” followed me for years. Although, I think I’m safe to say I was a good kid overall and stayed out of trouble.

Christianity was a bubble that I was in; not to say I wasn’t truly saved the first time, because I understood everything when my mother led me to Christ. But it wasn’t until years later, that light bulb went off.

In 2003, Mel Gibson released the movie, The Passion of the Christ. I was 15 at the time. Needless to say, as part of a church-sponsored event, I saw it. Seeing that movie, watching every graphic detail of what Christ went through even before he made it to the cross; it blew my mind. Many times before I had seen depictions and portrayals, including animation, of the last 12 hours of the life of Christ w/ ‘PG’ rated details. However, this movie being rated ‘R’ very vividly displayed the horror of his gory beautiful death. As a result I was no good. Even some time after the movie was over I was crying my eyes out in sorrow and guilt. I truly understood what Christ did, for me, yet I treated him like he had done nothing for me. I was almost ashamed to say his name out loud out of insecurity of being labeled as a ‘holy roller.’ It was then that I fell in love.

I fell in love with someone who I now call my best friend. He was there when no else was. I fell in love with Mercy. He alone is the one that kept and keeps me from getting involved in the wrong things. I fell in love with the Great Physician. He has held me together, more specifically, physically being a diabetic since the age of four. I fell in love with someone I call faithful. He always remains faithful, even when I am not, which happens to often. – I’m a work in progress. – I fell in love with peace. He has kept my ever racing mind from going rogue from worrying. I fell in love someone I call amazing. He never ceases to amaze me and blow my mind with his love.

As I once heard before, I could never repay Jesus for all he has done for me, but my purpose is to spend my life trying and to tell others about the best thing that ever happened to me.