Wear one. Share one. It is an invitation of faith...

I remember being in high school and lightly talking to a friend about my faith. It wasn’t something I easily spoke about, but my friend knew I was Catholic.

She used to tease me about it.  I remember her always saying, “Oh, Adina, how is Jesus today?” in a mocking voice. Or ask insensitive questions about why I was Catholic. 

I truly was never overly offended because we were friends, but I remember not feeling very confident about how to respond.

Sometimes, when you are born cradle Catholic, you just accept things. I was baptized, celebrated my Holy Communion, and went to Mass for the key “holidays” that should cover it, right? 

It wasn’t until I turned 19 that I realized I needed to take responsibility for my faith. I needed to learn more about why I personally felt connected.

The Catholic faith can be seen at times as devotional, because of this, I knew I personally needed more tangible ways to know Jesus. 

I mean, I was being mocked by knowing Him! I should probably learn more about Him!

So, I dived into my Church and joined a youth group. I had yet to make my confirmation, and this gave me a new way of viewing this sacrament. I joined a bible study, befriended clergy, and was open to building a relationship with Jesus.

Here is what I found out:

God is constantly inviting you to see Him. 

God is constantly inviting you to love Him. 

God is constantly inviting you to follow Him.

Oh, AND He mostly uses people to do the inviting...

I would like to say, it took me less than 35 years to figure this out...but like most relationships, it takes some time. 

The good news, I started to learn this little by little. 

As God loves me enough to wait on me and catch up. 

Since then, I see everything as an invitation.

From the first youth group invite at 19, came an invite to teach at a Catholic school, then an invite to become a Catechist, then an invite to meet my husband and accept the vocation of married life.

From there the invite to be a mother, the invite to know deeper joys, the invite to know deeper sorrows, the invite to learn about Ignatian Spirituality...and the invite to start a new chapter at My Saint My Hero.

(and few million more big and small invites along the way)

Bottom line, all the invites led up to knowing Jesus and finding more confidence in knowing why I love Him and why He loves me.

So, when I have an opportunity to spark a conversation about my faith, sometimes it is as easy as wearing a Wearable Blessing.

I have been to many places adorned in my cross necklace or a Blessings Bracelet, and I am asked all the time,  

"What are you wearing?"

"Where did you get that?"

I get excited because I can freely share about the sacramental piece I am wearing. 

I can share where the medals are from, where they are woven, why they are special...and most importantly, why I feel grounded and confident in sharing about them. 

Because we totally know it can be less about the bracelet and way more about our faith.

But God knows this, as He can use anything and anyone to invite the conversation of knowing Him. 

So, I encourage you, learn more about your faith, learn more about Jesus, and learn more about how He is inviting YOU!

Wear one. Share one.

—Adina Braatz/MSMH Mission Development