When a loved one falls away

     To me, there's a sadness that befalls one when a loved one falls away from their Faith. The Faith they were baptized into. The joyous day of witnessing their Holy anointing with the Sacred Waters of Baptism is met with a contentment of elation and peace. The union of their Souls and lives cannot be compared to anything other than a oneness of their hearts to God's, and you feel secure that they have received the washing away of Original sin they were born with and can start anew into their brand new life with God. 

     Then comes the sad news that as they have grown in age, they no longer practice their Faith and have fallen prey to the world's lies that they are individual and no longer need God in their lives. Their newfound Independence is scarred by neglect with pride and justification that God is not as important like they were brought up to believe. The false lies that tempt them when trial or error preached to them in the silence of their minds, fills them with confusion and pity for themselves, telling them, asking them, " where is your God?". In their desperation, as the evil one looks on at their reaction, is nudged more and more into a frenzy of confusion and they wander blamelessly into a dark place of self, and Hope dims in their silence. Leaving them stranded on that island of preservation of falsehood. 

     They are on a journey. To them,  it is an adventure. The evil one places "false" hope in their minds. That Hope seems hopeless. But I tell you, it is not. Our God has allowed this journey. He is keeping His watchful eye on all and it is up to us and our fervent prayers to keep them in the Holy sight of God. We all are tested like gold in fire. Our prayers, said constantly,  can help save them. Faith is a gift. It should never ever be taken for granted. Our strength lies only in God and God alone. Some need a little more strength. They need a little more prayer, a little more guidance. We must all pray daily for each other, because we are all tested. 

     Many great Saints, who it seemed "hopeless" in their journey of life, have come to be the most cherished and reliable of our guides to Heaven. We must never ever give up on our desire to have our loved ones, even the whole human race, come back to their Catholic faith or true Christian beliefs. Our desire could be "our" test. We must vigilantly keep them in our prayers as we also must pray for the fire of our own Faith to constantly be kindled daily. That light that burns within each of us can only be extinguished by neglect. Neglect to love. Neglect to care. Neglect to pray. Our surrender of Will to this Good and Merciful God, to ask Him, to work wonders in each of our lives, is met by Him who formed us even before the beginning of time. 

      He is listening. He is watching. He will not fail us, because He loves us.