We were able to focus on...

Disclosure:  This post is a part of the Blog Dare I am participating in for 2014. Come join us at BloggyMoms!

Just a little over a year ago, we were on the hunt for a church.  We no longer felt as welcomed, or as comfortable at the church we had been attending.  It was just too hard.  Kat and I could still see my daddy there, singing, teaching and preaching.  It had become hard to concentrate on anything, other than our loss.

Kat and Chefy started checking out a few churches without me.  I was having a problem leaving my mom and grandma at our old church.  Part of me felt like I was letting down my daddy, and I think a part of me was not sure if I even wanted to go to church anymore.  I know.  I know.  I guess I was still a little angry with God, and I hated myself for that.

The first Sunday of 2013, we attended our first service as a family at Antioch Baptist Church.  When we walked in the door, we were spoken to, hugged, and had our hands shaken by lots of people.  The preacher came over, welcomed me (since he already knew Kat & Chefy), gave me a hug, and told me to make myself at home.  I was very happy to see people I knew and when the services started, I found myself feeling much better.  The choir sang a familiar song, and I felt my heart warming. When the preacher started his sermon, he started out with a reference to his family.  That reminded me so much of my daddy!  I found myself in tears before the sermon was over.  I realized that for the first time in a year, I had been able to focus on God and His love.  I was no longer angry.

Chefy, Kat and I discussed it after church, and we knew that we had found our new home church.  For the first time in months, I wanted to go to church.  I felt like my daddy was with me, smiling.  My family was whole again, and love had returned.  We were able to focus on the future, and things were looking bright!