[Andyman]

I was born into basically nothing. The only time I ever attended church was to be baptized a Lutheran when I was six. Met and married a cradle Catholic and she prayed hard that I would find God. I was very thick headed and it took 19 years of marriage for God to finally find his way through my thick skull.

After many sleepless nights, waking for what I thought was not good reason, I finally just lay in my bed and for the first time in my life, I really prayed. One week later I started attending church regularly, two months later I decided to enter the OCIA class at church. My first Sunday accepting God’s body and blood I balled my eyes out in church; the feeling of relief, love, and oneness overwhelmed me. 5 years later I’m a 4th degree Knight, on the OCIA team, sing (?) in the choir, am a lector, and try in other ways to repay God for the many blessings he has given me over the past 48 years. Oh yeah, and no more sleepless nights.

[Arguss]

Andyman said:

"My first Sunday accepting God's body and blood I balled my eyes out in church; the feeling of relief, love, and oneness overwhelmed me."

I was wondering how many others reading this thread have received the 'gift of tears'?

St. Ambrose says of the two conversions that, in the Church,

"there are water and tears: the water of Baptism and the tears of repentance."

God granted me that Grace, and I consider it the greatest gift of consolation that He could grant.

If anybody has received it and wants to know more about it, read St. Catherine of Siena 'The Dialoge' or St. John of the Cross 'Dark Night of the Soul'

There is a whole theology to it.

[Salvation]

**the feeling of relief, love, and oneness overwhelmed me.**

Andyman, I have tears in my eyes, thank you!

[AnimalLover]

Your story is so familiar - it is exactly what happened to my father many, many years ago. He and my grandparents immigrated from Germany. He was also baptized Lutheran, met my mother (cradle Catholic) married and within 7 to 10 years, he became a Catholic - very strong Catholic and very involved in the church. After my Mom passed away in 1976, he started working with Mother Theresa's group in Detroit, Mich. He passed on to meet Mom and their heavenly rewards in 1992.

Sorry, after reading your post it all came back to me. Thanks and God bless!

[melsec]

God is good hey! Better late than never. I don't think God needs our pay back but I certainly understand your expression of love and gratitude at His great mercy and forgiveness. I believe it's what Paul meant when he said he was under obligation to preach the Gospel.

Blessings,

Mel