Waiting by Mandy Shealy

When my husband and I got married, we first lived in an apartment in Crystal City. Like many in the DC Metro area, we knew it was a temporary place for us. We bounced from parish to parish, feeling out the vibe and getting a sense of the atmosphere, often feeling like visitors from out of town. At that time, we were much more passive churchgoers, and we waited for an opportunity for someone to approach us, invite us to a social function, be a part of a ministry, etc. but these were few and far between. We became frustrated that we weren’t making friends with married couples of faith and just resigned ourselves to the company we currently kept.

That yearning continued and at times made me very sad. I prayed and waited for opportunities. 5 years passed since we married and then I gave birth to our first child, Andrew. Immediately, attention came our way. “Oh you are a sweet family!” “How old is your baby boy?” It was almost as if once you are a family people take notice of you. I thought that this must have been the secret ingredient. Having a family! Catholics love babies! Though exciting and new, the attention and conversations after church centered around our baby boy and not much else. Something still felt like it was missing. I continued to pray for God to direct me in a way that would deepen our spiritual life as well as create new relationships with strong people of faith.

Then God provided me with greater clarity. After a year after Andrew’s birth, I was expecting baby #2, Noah. I was learning through prayer that God wanted me to be confirmed in the Church. After months of preparation, I was confirmed a Catholic on August 28, 2017. After that moment, God’s direction and purpose for me as a Catholic married woman became more clear. I began asking people how I could be involved, what organizations I could support and how I could create more support for NFP in catholic families in our parish. I realized that in the “waiting” that what I really needed from God was not for me to wait for things to be given to me, but for me take a step and to give to the Church and help others flourish.

I’m reminded of that quote by John F. Kennedy: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” Ask what you can do for the Church. Fully immerse yourself in our mother, the Church and she will give you all you need. Since I was confirmed, I began asking more questions and reaching out to more people. I have now been involved in leadership positions in the Young Family Ministry, Teams of our Lady, and now a cantor for Nativity, which has been a recent call for me. I am beyond blessed to have met so many wonderful married couples and families and feel grateful for God’s perfect timing in my life. Happy Advent season everyone, may God direct you during your time of waiting. God Bless.