When the World Laughs

Not gonna lie, I’m feeling a bit, well, dejected at the moment. Deeply.

Nothing superficial – no boy drama or insecurities about how I look. No, this is character-level.

In the past 24 hours, I feel as though I’ve been the butt end of two very bad jokes.

Episode 1:

Allow me to set the stage:

It doesn’t matter how long you live in NYC, there is always something new and interesting to do. Another pocket of culture to discover. Another hidden gem just waiting to be explored.

And last night, I found myself in one of those places.

I went to a comedy club.

I know. These are not new. News Flash: They’re all over the country.

Yeah, thanks.

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But I’ve actually never been to live stand up comedy before. And, to be completely honest, I was bracing myself for some seriously raunchy material, and I was actually pleasantly surprised. All things considered, it was actually pretty tame. In fact, I would take my mother.

But there was a “bit” that really, well…it hit me….in the gut.

One of the comedians that evening (there were a bunch…it was amateur night…) was this absolutely gorgeous man. Oh my gosh, tall, blonde, well put together. And the first thing out of his mouth was, “So I’m a virgin.”

Silence. Uncomfortable silence. The room didn’t know whether to laugh or scoff or just look at each other and go, “Is he freakin’ serious?”

He went on to poke fun at himself for the next several minutes and, once they realized he was serious, people got more and more boisterous with their laughs .

And, yes, I was laughing too. But I wasn’t laughing at him like the rest of the crowd. I was laughing at just the head-shakingly/eye-rollingly/exasperatingly absurd degree of preoccupation and stigmatization over virginity.

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My virginity, for better or for worse, is no secret on this blog. I’m not ashamed of it. Not that I parade that info around in my day-to-day, but it’s deeply part of who I am, and it’s not something I’m going to compromise. Not until my wedding night.

But I’m just so done with virginity being the butt end of a joke. And here, tonight, I was literally smacked in the face with it being a bit in a stand up set.

It’s not stupid. It’s beautiful.

So that was episode #1 where part of who I deeply am, was just flat out laughed at.

Episode #2….is a little harder to talk about. Because…it’s slightly “political.”

But basically, in the WikiLeaks that came out tonight, it was found that the Clinton’s camp just bashed Christians – and Catholics in particular, calling it a “bastardization of faith” and a “dictatorship” with “severely backwards gender relations.” (And I promise that’s as political as this piece is going to get.)

But in literally the span of less than 24 hours, two of my most deeply identifying characteristics: my faith and my virginity, were blatantly laughed at and touted as moronic and out-of-touch.

And I know, these examples weren’t hurled at me personally, but they might as well have been.

But I’m going to be really honest – I couldn’t shake the feeling of just being all alone.

Like, Am I a huge joke? Am I just a walking freak show? A laughing stock just hanging out to dry? What’s wrong with me? 


But then I remembered this quote from John 18 where Jesus says: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first…You do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you…If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” 

Listen, I’m not trying to do some Beyonce dance about Runnin’ the World, like, “Oh I’m the chosen one, Jesus chose me, I’m holier than thou, blah blah blah.” 

No. Helllll to the no.

What I’m trying to say is that, we were not made for this world.

Everything happening on the news, yeah-it’s pretty bleak. Because this isn’t Heaven.

This world will try us, laugh at us, discourage us, bully us – just look at Jesus.

My virginity is no laughing matter. And my faith is most certainly not a laughing matter.

These deeply held beliefs and values I have do not make me a moron, or someone with “severely backwards” thinking. It doesn’t mean I should be wearing an ankle length skirt with orthopedic shoes, either.

These beliefs and values make me who I am. They make me Whose I am.

And one final note. To address the “severely backwards gender relations” of the church, mentioned in the Clinton camp emails, I would invite you to read my reflection on the Feminine Genius. I just found out it got shared 88 times on Facebook, so apparently it resonated with a few people. Just wanted to set the record straight on the actual gender relations of the “dictatorship” that is Catholicism. *eyeroll*

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Signing off for tonight.

Goodnight loves

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376 responses to “When the World Laughs”

  1. I’m with you. I hate the whole ‘label’ thing we have in our world right now (maybe it’s always been there, all the time).

    People can accept the difference in dogs and cats, and in every other being, but not in humans.

    It’s wonderful that you are who you are. And people don’t notice that you are the only one of yourself – there will never be another one of you. It’s perfect for us to discover ourselves and be who we are meant to be.

    Nice text. 🙂

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  2. But…but…I like yellow Starburst! In fact, I like Starburst period…must be the sweet tooth I have….

    But, yeah. Hold your head up, girl. You have it right. Hold on to your belief and faith…it’s made for beyond the world, not for the world.

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  3. I’ve been called out in comedy circles. big guy = easy target. I just remember not to take life too seriously.
    I’m a catholic too, and while there’s been a lot of catholic bashing lately (some of it well deserved). I think it’s okay to see places where my church can improve. As for being in Hillary emails, I’m not sure anyone is in any place to judge. We can’t assume a mood or a candor that was meant to be left in confidence, but people do assume a lot about Catholicism and are ignorant to just how diverse of a crowd we are 🙂

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    • Hey Joe, thanks for this reflection. That’s a really great perspective. Definitely some food for thought. Yeah-diverse indeed!! So glad you stopped by! Big hugs to ya:) xox

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  4. You are a beautiful, wonderful, loving, caring person for you hold on to your integrity and values is absolutely amazing! Unfortunately this election has brought out the very worst in people never seen anything like this in my almost fifty years. Psalms 18:2
    The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
    my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
    my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

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  5. I absolutely love that, while those two incidents made you feel alone, you chose to go back to who you are and why you believe what you do and reaffirm yourself instead of giving into the majority. You are completely right. We are not of this world, but how we choose to move through this world IS a reflection of us – as it was a reflection of Jesus. Stay strong. You are NOT alone. 🙂

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  7. This is excellent. I’m Catholic, and was so hurt to read those words from the Communications DIRECTOR of HRC’s campaign. You said it – we are not made for this world.
    Keep your strength in everything that is part of you. ❤️

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      • “Yeah gotta keep our eyes tilted towards Heaven” That’s important. But (at the same time) it is part of our destiny to be here and now a visual aid of what the Kingdom of Heaven is really like, and bring Heaven down to earth. “Jesus’s resurrection is the beginning of God’s new project not to snatch people away from earth to heaven but to colonize earth with the life of heaven. That, after all, is what the Lord’s Prayer is about.”
        ― (N.T. Wright, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church)

        Blessings to you,
        Mark

  9. Don’t forget…..you are younique and beautifully and wonderfully made! It is so easy for “comedians” to make fun at the expense of others. You have a powerfull testimony! Thank you for sharing your walk of faith!

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  10. So eloquently said. Just be who are and stay true to that, there is nothing more beautiful than authenticity. In the world but nkg of the world, right? 🙂

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  11. I’m sorry you were made fun of for being a virgin. I am an atheist and very liberal in my sexual mores, but I think holding off on sex is a personal decision and no one else’s business. It’s your choice, and there is nothing wrong with that.

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  12. Caralyn – after reading your blog for awhile now I’ve come to realize something. Oh, it’s good. No worries. The realization is that you have a different perspective on things and life just like Jesus. Now take after His example and don’t let the small stuff bother you because you are a child of God and that’s all that matters. Not what other people think.

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  13. Since we can’t control them, we let them laugh. Thing is, I know they don’t know what they’re talking about so they can laugh away. That’s on any subject, actually.
    These two important values you have are awesome and they make you (or help make you) the amazing person that you are. Don’t let anyone get you to think otherwise.
    I’m also Catholic and many people misunderstand the church. I do know we’re not perfect and some of our leaders give us a bad name, but that’s any group.
    I will not be persuaded to be anything but me and I see you are the same. I definitely like what you say – being “whose” you are. That is fantastic!
    Thank you for this post – for encouraging us to stay true to ourselves.

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  14. Honey, over time you will be so deeply you nothing anyone in this crass world will be able to get to you. If Jesus was persecuted which I am familiar with then that’s OK by me. We of Love are not from this realm … none of us are but unfortunately many do not know this. Stay true to you. And know I for one am very proud of you! <3

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  15. Your virginity nor your faith are a laughing matter! But as you said, we are not made for this world. We are to be salt and seasoning, a light shining in the darkness, and you are both!! Don’t forget our current president mocked those who might disagree with him as “clinging to their guns and their bible.” Regardless who takes the White House, the earthly cause of Christianity is a loser. But it’s never been where we are supposed to win. The reason they dislike Jesus, the reason they mock Him, is the same reason they crucified Him – because Jesus is Lord! They don’t mock Mohammed, they don’t shame Buddha, they don’t call Hindus crazy. None of them makes the claims of Christ None of them has the power of Christ. None of them was ever resurrected from the dead. None of them can resurrect an alcoholic, a sex addict, a gambling addict, an anorexic. None of them can bring you back to life!! If God is on our side, who can be against us??!!

    Anyway, sorry for the rant, keep your head up! You are a child of the one true king, you are the salt and light of the world.

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    • Salt and seasoning! I love that! Seriously though thank you so much for your encouragement. Yes, God is on our side and what a blessing that is! Hope you’re having a great night. Hugs and love xox

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  16. I’m neither here nor there when it comes to religion but respect the views and beliefs of others regardless. Have my own little spiritual beliefs and feelings about an afterlife of some description but what that is and why I believe it I can’t explain.

    Here’s the thing – I don’t try to explain it. It doesn’t need to be explained or justified to anyone. It’s just for me.

    Aggressive atheists and online keyboard warriors sat there waiting for the chance to jump on others and shout down their own beliefs are in my view, the most ignorant and backward of all the world’s worst people.

    Why it bothers them that someone else believes in what they don’t or can’t understand is possibly based on a need to control everything about life. That in turn suggests an element of fear and anxiety about what might be beyond their control which I guess explains the need to disprove this and that and always feel they’re right.

    Understand why this grates on you and how it hit a nerve but ultimately, what you feel, believe and how you choose to live is right and you know it is.

    Don’t waste any of your time or energy on the truly ignorant, backward morons that couldn’t grasp a straw with two hands.

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    • Thank you so much for this. You’re right-I shouldn’t have to explain or prove myself to anyone. I should just be me. 🙂 thanks for that powerful perspective. You rock! Big hugs xox

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      • You’re welcome! You know the saying “The only certain in things in life are death and taxes”? It needs updating and editing to say “death, taxes and stupid people on the internet”

        There’s little point wasting time worrying about any of these things so don’t give time that could be better much spent on more important stuff.

        The only people whose opinions I genuinely care about are the very select few people I genuinely care about. Everyone else is free to think and say what they like but I give zero shits either way. Keep that in mind and you might find it helpful in dealing with idiots. 😀

        PS. Genuinely surprised you’ve got grief of any description about being a virgin?? Chances are whoever has given you stick is also a virgin but for some reason daren’t be honest or they regretted the time, place and person they thoughtlessly gave theirs to once upon a time.

  18. Standing strong to your convictions is a sign of good character…those of less moral fiber relieve their inner shame by casting aspersions on those they know to possess the missing qualities they wish they had! Your pride is not connected to anything but your convictions 😍

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  19. I started following your Blog because I like the way you think, especially for being so young. I am 65 and I have some of these same values. Be who you are. God made you that way for a reason. The world needs more good people.

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  20. Dare to be different! That means dare to be you! None of us is alike in all ways. Some of us have similar values, morals, likes, dislikes, etc…..but not one of us exactly the same. The only thing we all have in common is that we are human. We make choices; right, wrong, bad, good, etc….BUT what really matters is BEING YOU, BEING HAPPY WITH YOU, and THE RIGHT PEOPLE WILL LOVE AND RESPECT YOU FOR BEING YOU. How boring would the world be if we were all exactly the same? And those that have been led astray or made some not so good choices have you to look to for guidance. I commend you for the extreme strength you demonstrate in sharing your beliefs, values, and morals. It takes tremendous bravery and strength to just be you and share yourself with others. It also takes tremendous insight to reflect on what you value and hold sacred, to be true to who you are, and to live your life as you see fit.
    You are an inspiration to many people and obviously a very strong woman. Thank you for your post!
    You are not alone.

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  21. I don’t know what, exactly, the guy said in that comedy club. I do, however, admire your determination to make your own choices when it comes to questions of your sexuality and not be influenced by what the social norms seem to be. That’s the sweet spot to me, and not a laughing matter: we should all make these decisions for ourselves–whether that decision is religious or philosophical or just what we believe is best for each of us as individuals. Peer pressure shouldn’t get a vote. (And neither should the audience at a comedy club.)

    My opinion of Halpin’s words are more complicated. I understand him to be saying, “There are reactionary people out there who decide to convert to Catholicism just because it lays out its theology so exactly and because the priesthood is still all male and there’s still a theological ban on birth control, etc. And that’s a bastardization of the faith–i.e., there’s more to Catholicism than that.” (I suspect he was looking at Ross Douthat from the New York Times when he wrote all this, but that’s just a guess.)

    Coming from a progressive background, I’ve heard people say essentially the same thing about both Catholicism and Orthodox Judaism–sometimes from people who practice Catholicism or Judaism, sometimes from people who used to but are lapsed, and sometimes from people who have nothing to do with either religion.

    The truth is, none of us know what moves someone to convert to another religion (or to a different branch of the same religion). I’d be really surprised if conservative reactionary-ism is never a motive, just as I’d be flabbergasted if liberal politics weren’t ever a motive for joining a progressive synagogue or the Episcopal Church or the Unitarian Universalists.

    Now the hard part: is there any fair critique of the perceived gender inequality in Catholicism or Orthodox Judaism or Evangelical Christianity or . . . really, take your pick from traditional religions. To me, it shouldn’t be much of an issue in the U.S., where we have freedom of religion, and where these religions (at least in theory) don’t have temporal power. Anyone who’s dissatisfied with that perceived gender inequality can either fight to change it from within or vote with their feet and move to a more liberal branch of their religion. Or,heck, just become secular.

    Granted, there may be powerful cultural pressure or family pressure or whatever to stay where they are, but it can still be done. (Sometimes at great personal cost–I do understand that.)

    And, granted, this all becomes more complicated when there are political consequences to religious freedom. And, yeah, that sometimes happens here, because figuring out where to draw the lines, figuring out where freedom of religion impinges on someone else’s personal freedoms (or vice versa), is a messy business.

    I suppose, at the end of the day, there’s a more fruitful way to discuss all this than Halpin chose in his email.

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    • Hi Jenn! Thank you so much for this. You’re right-peer pressure shouldn’t get a vote. Love that. Yeah to be honest, I guess I don’t really know all the “nuts and bolts” and “ins and outs” of the whole situation. But you’re right-religion is a deeply personal thing that is between that person and God. And one things for sure: it’s a messy business indeed. Thank you so much for this great food for thought! Love the dialogue! Sending big big hugs to ya Jenn! Xoxox

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  23. Ugh, I know how it feels for your very being to basically become a joke. In my philosophy class, a few students misunderstood how Buddhism treats suffering: you accept it and move on. One guy asked “Well what if I’m laid off? Yay, I’m unemployed?” My dad’s been laid off since June and has been fighting tooth and nail since to find a job (God bless his soul.) And it pains me deeply to watch him pour himself into this without any results. But I digress. Sometimes, people just don’t understand the weight of their words because they don’t understand the power of words or your story. The takeaway is that you know your story and you know that it’s valuable.

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  25. No single person should ever (!) be ashamed of being a virgin. It shows the world that you know just how incredibly valuable you are and that your body isn’t going to be wasted on just any Tom, Dick, or Horny who comes along.
    As for Clinton bashing Christians, it really shouldn’t be a surprise. Her idol is Saul Alinsky and, as a socialist/communist, he was vehemently opposed to any faith but faith in the state. And that’s the end of my own political statement.
    You’re precious to God and to those of use who are coming to know you through your words. Never forget that!

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    • Hi Elizabeth! Wow, thank you so much for this. Very true. Yeah I try not to get into politics on here (or in life!), but it just hit so close to home I needed to just say a few words. Thank you again for making me feel so validated and affirmed. Grateful for you 🙂 Hugs and love xox

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  26. Wow, it must’ve been hard to stomach those episodes, but it’s great to see that you put it in perspective and even managed to laugh at some parts of it.

    So frankly speaking, I’m not a virgin nor Catholic, maybe you’ll see me as the Devil (hopefully not ahah), but after reading a lot of your posts, it’s pretty clear that you’ve got a good heart Caralyn. And that’s what matters the most, at the end of the day.

    The fact that you write about your life so openly and stand up for your values (whatever they may be) is truly inspiring. Just wanted to let you know, peace. 🙂

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    • Hi Psy! Yeah, thank you so much for this. Hahah no, definitely NOT! 🙂 I see you as a great friend that has compassion and empathy and a great heart. Thanks for saying such kind things. I appreciate you:) Hugs and love xox

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  27. I thought I would encourage you with another little bit of Fenelon, one of my favorite Catholic authors. He writes,

    “As the saying goes, “Let the water flow beneath the bridge.” You can’t- change men from being men. People will always be weak, vain, unreliable, unfair, hypocritical and arrogant. The world will always be worldly. And you cannot change it. People will follow their own inclinations and habits. And since you cannot recast their personalities, the best course of action is to let them be what they are and bear with them. Do not allow yourself to be troubled and perplexed when you see people being unreasonable and unjust. Rest in peace in the bosom of God. He sees it all more clearly than you do, and yet He permits it. So be content to do whatever you feel you should, quietly and gently and don’t worry about anything else.”

    If you want to read the whole letter this is from, you can find it here:
    http://danledwith.com/2015/10/16/quietness-in-god-our-true-resource/
    You could read the whole thing in less than a minute.
    I know it’s hard to be so awesome, but stay positive friend. =)

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  33. Hey girl,don’t let them feel bad for doing good..Be encouraged by Romans 12:2,you are not allowing the customs and behaviours of this world to change you.

    Continue allowing the Word of God to work in you.You are beautiful inside and out.Daughter of the most High.

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  35. Number 1 – On your “virginity,” you go girl! Does it get any better? Not to my way of thinking? I can only imagine how honored your husband is going to be on your wedding night? Another thing I cannot even imagine, is how proud God is going to be of you? Doesn’t get much better than that now does it?

    Number 2 – You know I am Catholic. I also see you read a lot of how we are bashed over, over, and over. When I converted I lost all but one of my Protestant friends, one was for over 20 years. I might as well of been a leper.

    You know when the “devil” says things such as this, why am I going to let him upset me? He has already lost all he hoped to gain on the Day of the Cross, which was to overtake God and all the heavens. See he thought he had killed Jesus, but Jesus came up out of the grave.

    This is nothing new for Catholics. When we are persecuted we always remember, they persecuted Christ first. Sometimes when this happens I have to feel loved, that Christ has allowed me to feel some of what He felt. That is what it is all about. Good post, love you and God Bless, SR

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    • Hi SR. wow what a powerful reflection. I am seriously so touched and moved by this. You’re right-Christ was persecuted first. What an incredible way to look at the pain we may feel-as a way to feel how He felt and a demonstration of love-so so powerful. And I’m sorry to hear that your friends did not stick by you. That makes me sad. Know that you always have a friend in me 🙂 big big hugs xox

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  36. I think the overall culture of where you live makes it a little harder to live out your faith without feeling criticized. It’s a great opportunity for you to stand out and be a witness, but it can be tough! There will always be haters though no matter where you are.
    I want to encourage you in your walk. I chose to be a virgin until I was married, too. I had plenty of opportunities to give in but I chose to wait so I could honor God and my future husband. This was difficult because where I live in Louisiana there are a lot of people who say they are Christians but their life is a complete mess and they do all sorts of rebellious things that harm themselves and others… then put God’s name on it. Anyway… so basically when I met my husband it was like the heavens opened up and dropped him before me. Lol
    Your day will come and those people who were critical of your life will see the benefits it brings you. Surround yourself with like-minded people so you stay encouraged. The best thing I ever did besides marrying my husband was to join the church I am at now and develop great friendships with people who get it and get me! Stay strong in your faith and know that there are more of us out here so you aren’t alone! It’d be so great to chat with you if you ever wanted to! But even if not, I pray blessings over you! 🙂

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    • Thank you so much. I so appreciate your encouragement. It’s nice to know I’m not alone:) wow, what a beautiful love story you and your husband have! So inspiring:) thank you for sharing that. Sending big big hugs!!

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  37. Hello, Beloved. The most important thing is, that you know who you are. „Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion“ (Brennan Manning, Abba’s Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging) every challenge in life is just another opportunity to embrace your identity as the beloved Child of Abba with more depth and clarity. Use it as a springboard to realize a deeper and deeper awareness of your belovedness. You always take a deep breath and relax for a few seconds into this inner presence, and then live uncompromising in and out of it, whatever the circumstances and opinions of others may be. The highest standard for truth is in all ways and always Jesus and not the idle talk of the world. All this wish-wash will spin away, but the eternal Love of Christ – that is stronger than death – is, in the end, the only thing we can hang onto. This is just the truth and I am not ashamed to believe and express it.

    Blessings to you, my Dear :),
    Mark

    …

    http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/20/d0/f2/20d0f2c29fef5ddda0d0c70680aae070.jpg

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    • Hey Mark! Thank you so much for this. You’re right- that’s a beautiful way to define myself-as a child of God that is deeply deeply loved. What a powerful and comforting thought. Thank you for that:) God is good. And yes, let’s hang onto that truth! Big hugs xox

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  39. When I read the Clinton camp’s comments on Catholicism, my first reaction was . . . to think less of the Clinton camp. Wise people speak words of love. Petty people pick on others.

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    • Yes! Mark 6:11 (ASV) „And whatsoever place shall not receive you, and they hear you not, as ye go forth thence, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony unto them.“ – this has nothing to do with arrogance. This is just compassion and wisdom 😉 Wisdom, because it doesn’t make any sense to fight with someone, who doesn’t want to here the gospel, and compassion, because someone else will hear you and need your words.

      And we are called to go to this places, where our seeds fell on good soil and can bring forth good fruit, „some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.“

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  41. Great post! I’m sure most people who are religious and live their lives to favor God instead of man (including their own selves) can strongly identify with every single word you write here. Brilliant post! So true. So sad. At the end God will prevail. Western civilization isn’t the first to mock God. God survived the others He’ll survive comedy clubs too… all the best thanks for most inspiring blog…

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    • Hello, Mozer 😉 C.S. Lewis said that Humour is the all-consoling and the all-excusing, grace of life. Hell is for me a plae without humour. And I think the message of the Gospel – our faith in the resurrection of Christ – gives us the opportunity to answer the tragedy of the human life with heavenly humour and even death with a vision of joy and hope. Death is like the night: just a bridge into a new dawn. That’s a great reason for laughter! Maybe you will like that article, about the „Role of Laughter in the Christian Life“:

      „As I have mentioned, I believe that a divine incongruity exists in our nature as spiritual animals. The fact that we make coarse jokes, jokes about sex and bodily functions, was for Lewis evidence that we are animals that find our bodies either objectionable or funny.
        Laughter, like any other good gift bestowed by God, can be corrupted, bent, spoiled, ruined. Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds. Laughter begins to be a demon the moment it begins to be a god. If we make laughter a god and worship it, it takes its own revenge upon us. It dies. Laughter is not enough to sustain us. It must be recognized as a simple gift; not the gift of life itself.
        Lewis warned of the laughter of Flippancy. Flippancy jokes about goodness, virtue, justice. It is cruelty disguised as joking. Our throats are like open sepulchers, graves where dead laughter exists. The weed of flippancy grows in the soil of superiority and pride. Its grubby root is in meanness. Over a cup of coffee and a sneering wink and a rolling of the eyes, we mock others. We laugh but know we should be repenting.
        Lewis denounced flippancy so thoroughly because it was so close to his heart. It was his thorn. He knew its power, of wink-wink, nudge-nudge, know what I mean smirks toward others, living in what he called his own great puddle of naughtiness and meanness toward others. Yet, just because a good gift can go bad, one should not reject it. Laughter must be enjoyed in its goodness and fullness. In fact, laughter contributes to our physical as well as spiritual health.
        The therapeutic benefits of laughter to health have been well documented: When we laugh, chemical endorphins are released into the blood stream; as laughter provides a workout for the diaphragm, they increase the body’s ability to use oxygen. Laughter enhances blood flow, reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, stimulates alertness, dulls stabs of pain, fosters a sense of relaxation, provides cardiovascular benefits such as aerobic exercise, and loosens your bowels. Laughter truly may be good medicine.“
      http://www.cslewisinstitute.org/The_Role_of_Laughter_in_the_Christian_Life_page5

      So there a different kinds of humour: laughter enjoyed in its goodness and fullness, which contributes to our spiritual and physical health and is a sign that the power of Grace and Love is present in your life, and the misuse of laughter as “cruelty disguised as joking”.

      Blessings to you,
      Mark

      …

      https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/b1/58/44/b15844e29ff495544e396a276e97d647.jpg

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    • Hi Mozer! Thank you so much for this. I do believe that and cling to that hope: that God will prevail. Amen to that. And that made me smile-yes, He’ll survive the comedy clubs! Haha 🙂 Hugs and love xox

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  43. “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first…You do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you…If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” Just 100% truth.

    And yes: Virginity and our Catholic faith are both beautiful and noble things. You should be proud to possess both. Never let anyone make you feel ashamed of either one.

    God bless you always. 😀

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  44. Love this. Keep standing strong in who you are in the Lord. As one who wishes so much she’d waited, I commend you for your choice. Ridicule of such beautiful obedience can be dismaying, but the joy in serving Jesus is beyond anything the world can throw at you. Blessings.

    Reply

    • Thank you so much Marisa! I appreciate your encouragement. I love that-there really is joy in serving Jesus. I wish I could say I do it all the time, because let’s be real: I fail and fall short ALL the time, but there is true joy in those moments. So glad you stopped by. Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Hugs and love xox

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  45. Thank you for your boldness and candor. The Lord will honor your choice to remain a virgin until your wedding night. And I’m sorry for the Catholic bashing you took. You are a mighty wonderful testimony for all your readers. And you’re striking some beautiful chords and some raw nerves. More than 70 comments. Good for you. Just keep remembering John 18. You’re blog posts are a delight to read and I truly admire your devotion to Christ. God bless you my dear. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

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  46. I love your honesty! I love that you have the courage to stand out and be different! I love that you use your voice! I love that you have the courage of your convictions! I love that you know what is important in life! Do not feel alone, there are many people who share your beliefs and stand firmly by them. Remember Jesus is your rock who cannot be shaken!

    You are a warrior! Keep fighting the good fight!

    Heather Lee xx

    Reply

  47. Always be proud of who you are. Regardless of who says what and what others may be laughing at, what really matters is being true to yourself. Which you clearly are.Good on you. xo

    Reply

      • They simply don’t understand your reasons. You yearns to be known and that takes time and intimacy. John Eldredge described in Captivating: “Just like God, a woman is not a problem to be solved but a vast wonder to be enjoyed. This is so true of her sexuality. Few women can or even want to “just do it.” Foreplay is crucial to her heart, the whispering and loving and exploring of one another that culminates in intercourse. That is a picture of what it means to love her soul. She yearns to be known and that takes time and intimacy. It requires an unveiling. As she is sought after, she reveals more of her beauty. As she unveils her beauty, she draws us to know her more deeply.”
        That’s the right way 🙂

  48. Keep both and don’t give it up for anybody less than the King we call Jesus. Invest your virginity as a holy sacrifice only to a man Jesus sends you. It ain’t no dog food. And faith? Well the Clinton camp are just regressive, culturally constipated hillbillies. Even from here in Africa our X-ray eyes see through them.

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  49. It is sad when the world throws us Catholic-Christians punches for our values, all we can do is arm ourselves with the truth of the Church and pray unceasingly. Great post!

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  50. When the World Laughs and cold winds are blowing, Christ is nearer to us, and we as Christians come closer to Him and closer to one another.

    Caralyn, you are beautiful from inside and out, you are brave, you are warm and giving, and you are LOVED!

    Lennart

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    • Hi Lennart, thank you so much for this beautiful affirmation. Gosh My heart is just feeling so warm after reading this. You’re right, God is near to His children:) have a great weekend! big hugs xox

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  52. I hear you. I cannot stand being laughed at, so I can imagine how you felt having the things you hold dearly both jeered at (even if it was done through someone else) and trashed so disrespectfully.

    We only just “met”, so I don’t know you well enough to offer any real advice. But what I can say, based on what little I know yet, is that you are too lovely to have these issues affecting you so negatively.

    While I understand your hurt, I’d suggest to you that you’ve got a long, beautiful life in front of you in which, unfortunately, these types of insensitive events will always occur. Your life is about you and other peoples’ insensitivity is not, so don’t take them to heart or too personally. It’s just not worth the wrinkles, haha! 🙂

    When you are my age (40), you won’t be as affected by them, I promise. It does get better, believe me. You learn to desensitize without losing your core values. It’s a challenge, but it is a beautiful thing when you get there.

    Good luck, lady! Dream sweetly, you. Hugs…

    Reply

    • Thank you so much for these kind words. It really means a lot and I appreciate you sharing part of your heart! You’re right-definitely NOT worth the wrinkles!! Hahaha thanks again for the affirmation:) so glad you stopped by! Hope you have a beautiful weekend! Hugs and love xox

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  53. This is a nice piece with deep truths wriggled within the climactic “BeautyBeyondBones” writing manner….. I’m forever grateful for this post.
    Please I’ll like to reblog.

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  54. While I very much respect the role of the “Mother Church,” I have encountered nuns that rail against its patriarchy, and have at times felt extremely frustrated regarding its claim for religious exemptions from common-sense measures such as provision of reproductive health services. While Pope Francis’ recent encyclicals lean in the direction of moderating the rigid policies of the past, bishops often take an independent line, and I can see in a moment of frustration that some would use harsh language in characterizing their demands for special consideration on religious grounds.

    One of my uncles dropped out of seminary because he found that the Church did not tolerate independent thinking. His experience was disturbing enough that he warned me against association with the Church.

    A bit of perspective, therefore: the Church is a powerful institution with deep resources. Comments such as have been released from the Democratic Party have been made before – and far worse. There are evangelicals, for example, that identify the Catholic Church with the Whore of Babylon in the Book of Revelation. It has thick skin, and the better Popes treat such criticism as a signal that Christian compassion is lacking in some part of its community.

    So I would advise you not to take it too personally. I know that Christ can’t – if he grieved over all of the wrongs done in his name, he would simply walk away in shame.

    More lightly, regarding your virginity: well, it’s a good thing that you know your own worth! I certainly didn’t, and when I finally was devoured by the politics that many people attach to sexual intimacy, I began to wish that I had just gone without. That doesn’t mean that I haven’t had really beautiful experiences of bliss – it’s that they have always been corrupted by people that seek to coopt the power that soul mates generate between themselves. I pray that you find somebody strong enough to affirm your sacred spirit when that pressure arises.

    Hah! Did I say “more lightly.” Life of the party, I am not.

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    • Hi Brian! Oh i beg to differ! You are definitely the life of the party in my book! 😊😊😊 but seriously, thank you so much for this reflection. I really appreciate the healthy dialogue 🙂 thank you for the prayers-I’ll def keep you in mine as well! But yeah I trust that God is going to bring the right man into my life. I just have to have patience, which is a lot easier said than done! Haha And yeah, I’m also going to be praying for unity and understanding within our faith! 🙂 so glad you stopped by! Hugs and love xox

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    • I know that the church and clergy are not perfect, I do understand your explanation. However, for every bad priest, I have found 8 really good ones. We really don’t hear about the good they do. The pope when acting ex-cathedra- (inspired by the Holy Spirit) is infallible.The Holy Spirit is the truth. If we are going to question that, then we might as well forget the bible altogether. So, I say, stay true to the gospel according to Jesus Christ. Sure times change, fads come and go but Jesus’ teachings are unchanging and they are for all people and for all times. I look up to Jesus as my hope because the world isn’t giving me any hope. I wish you God’s blessings

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      • Thank you for affirming the one infallible source of truth, which is love that never turns its eyes away, and seeks always to bring peace and strength, even to those that reject its ministrations. Jesus was the perfect manifestation of that spirit – his actions gave love an insuperable beachhead in this world of pain. And when he returns, even the pope will bend his knee to plead: “Teach me!”

        For as I read the Bible, it is not the story of humans that acted according to God’s will. It is the story of God’s perseverance in redeeming those that disobey. As he is the Father, he suffers with humanity as all good parents do: allowing the law of Natural Consequences to unfold until children learn self-restraint under the lessons learned in the pursuit of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

  55. Sorry for how you feel right now, I’m proud of you for not conforming with what others think. Keep getting the encouragement you need from the word, being true to what you believe is not in vain.

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  56. On the political note. People who make fun of the catholic religion don’t really understand it at all. Just look at my blog on TESTIMONIALS (celebrities who are catholics and are now reaping God’s blessings). We live in a time of despair and Jesus Christ is our victory, Jesus is our hope. It is He who comes to collect His faithfuls in the end (see Revelation). You’re either a follower or a fan. We who are united to JC are incorporated into Christ’s victory at the end. Fans of JC don’t get a mention in the book of Revelation. <3 God bless 🙁

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  58. Great blog post! Talks about sex, virginity and what-nots are at times indeed a laughing stock for people…

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  59. Yes. Jesus is our hope. Not Washington. Not the Democratic or Republican Party. They both utterly fail. We in Jesus, the church, are allied to one political entity, I believe: the grace and kingdom of God come in Jesus, which brings with it, the politics of Jesus. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and convictions on this and on the other issue, also. Well said, sister.

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    • Thank you for this Ted. Amen amen amen! Jesus IS our hope. So when we may feel the world crashing, we just have to remember that He is our ultimate strength and truth and hope. Not Washington. Hugs and love xox

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  61. You are a light in the darkness. A trailblazer. ‘Don’t hide your light under a bushel, set it up on a high public place, for all to see’. That’s what he told us to do, and that’s what you have done and continue to do. 🙂

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  62. I disagree. Jesus chose you and that is what you have against all this but also what must be worked into all this. Jesus, didn’t start at the top with kings he preached in alleys. The top separates itself into its own consciousness and the more homogenous the more, exclusive it becomes. The comedy crowd, you saw a wave of consciousness and an idea that excludes virginity. Therefore, it is something to be laughed at because it is not a shared path of the crowd. I’m Native, we are always laughed at because like virginity it’s not a well worn path. It’s a benefit of exclusion it gains perspective and empathy towards the collective consciousness.

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  63. Humor is the universal stress reliever. It’s different for everyone, sometimes dry and satirical, sometimes raw and uncensored. The important point is that, for the comedian’s virginity, the bit is how he’s choosing to deal with the stigma. There are lots of us (myself included) that have tremendous respect for your choice to save that for your future husband. Regardless of what people do or say around you to the contrary, you should always be proud of that.

    As for the WikiLeaks emails that have been released, there’s a lot of nasty stuff demonstrating the manipulation the DNC and Clinton have orchestrated to create a nation of uninformed and compliant followers. The content, at least to me, isn’t as important as the fact that it happened without anyone being the wiser about it. We’re all free to choose our religion and faith and as with the virginity bit, you should be proud of the fact that you *do* believe. What others say (and believe) is on them to reconcile later in life.

    That’s my $0.02.

    Reply

    • Thank you for this awesome $.02! 😊😊😎 but you’re so right-humor is definitely a way to deal with stresses and insecurities. I definitely have used this coping mechanism many times before. So good on that comic for finding what works for him! And you’re right-there’s a lot going on in Washington that the public is unaware of, unfortunately. Thanks for stopping by! Have a fantastic weekend! Hugs and love xox

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  65. I understand the feeling. I recently moved away from everything familiar and have experienced the same feelings after getting a much bigger dose of “the world” than I suppose I expected to. I hav3 moved far away from all I have known before…and struggled with being different and set apart. But I was overseas and I suppose that I expected it, to a degree. But even within the United states, I have learned…things here in my new home state…cause me to feel even MORE worlds apart. Now that I just typed that, I recall writing about it. Anyhow, my point being…I understand. Clearly I am no longer a virgin (married with 3 teenagers). But I am in such a different place than every person I have met and gotten to know…here…in this new place. Like you, that is when Daddy God reminded me of the same thing. “Sweetheart, precious one, Dodi (my beloved), Daddy’s girl…YOU are my salt & light to this lost community! YOU are the highly-prized one and made in AWE and WONDER! I take GREAT JOY in YOU! Like the humble daughter of a chosen people…that has willingly endured such beautifully – painful refining to become ready for The King! Now… 🙂 … you are ready and being presented to a twisted, corrupt and lost world…in desperate need of truth, love, kindness and a different kind of RARE beauty…that cannot help but demand a presence! Take MY Peace…and soak in it for a while and remember not only WHOSE you are…but HOW I see YOU in that very moment of misplaced shame. Oh, Daughter of The King…Daddy’s got you!” ♡

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  66. AMEN to that! I’m so tired of having to defend my Catholicism to protestants and nonbelievers. What’s worse is when i tell them that not only am I Catholic, but i am traditionalist Catholic attending a FSSP parish. “What?! You make the women dress modestly and wear veils on their heads?! And the priest doesn’t even look at you much?! What’s wrong with you?!” I’ve learned to take Matthew Chapter 5 Verse 39 to heart, “But I say to you not to resist evil: but if one strike thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other:” I smile and pray for them later. I tend to not let the bashing of the one True faith get to me any more like i used to. Keep your head up, my friend! 🙂

    – David

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    • Thank you So much for this David. That’s such a powerful verse and to be honest, is one of the most difficult for me to personally embrace fullheartedly but it’s one hundred percent true. It’s the absolutely description of Jesus’ life and death and that’s the ultimate example. Have a beautiful weekend. Hugs and love xox

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  67. I wish I read this blog post before I got married. I too felt alone with being a virgin but I did it not only to protect myself but for the Lord. I don’t regret the decision. I had to go through a lot but I eventually found the right man. You will too. Thanks for posting.

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  69. I can completely relate to feeling like you are the butt-end of a joke, even when it isn’t personally directed towards you. I LOVE stand up comedy. I watch a lot of it on Netflix, and sometimes, the comedian will make a joke about a particular virus that I have, one that not a lot of people are informed about. So, unfortunately, this virus has a bad social stigma attached to it. When comedians joke about it, it hits me right in the gut. It’s not something anyone asked for, so why must there be such a nasty joke about it? But, I still love stand up comedy (when it’s good) 🙂
    Sticking to your faith and your personal morals is good in situations like these!
    Katelyn xx

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    • Thank you so much Katelyn:) yeah I love stand up too! And find myself on those Netflix channels a lot too! Haha you’re right though, a lot of times insensitivity is the name of the comedy game. Know that I’ve always got your back:) big hugs xox

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  70. Be encouraged. You are NOT alone, as you can tell from all of the wonderful comments above (well … most of them! lol) Again, you are NOT alone on either point! There are millions upon millions of women and men worldwide who remain virgins until they marry. This may not be true in our particular society, but our particular society is not the only one in the world; besides, there are many women and men even in the good ole U S of A that save themselves for marriage. As for the derogatory comments about Catholicism (and evangelical Protestantism), there are multitudes of accomplished Catholic (and Protestant . . . and Orthodox) scholars and professionals living in every part of the world, including the U.S. They’re not apologizing for their faith, or doing anything to hide it . . . neither should we! Thank you for this open, honest post. As always, God bless you tremendously and keep you ever and always in his tender, loving care! 🙂 🙂 🙂

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  71. wanting to lose my virginity and the pressure to do so (which sadly as you know I gave into) has left me scarred with an unhealthy attitude towards sex and that’s something I still struggle with (I know God is working in that situation accepts my repentance of it, and will continue to work in it until its changed in me, and I will continue to pray about it) and I will continue to resist the enemy using it against me. Clinton sadly has been misguided by the worlds sight and continuous seeking of promotion, as far as I see, sadly I can’t make a judgement on something that’s out of my hands though I do pray for you and your country about it x. Even Christians are persecuting other Christians is just painful to see anyway this got quite deep and serious and you know me well enough to know I will end this with something silly for you to laugh and smile at, as always sending you lots of love and hugs (and of course butternut squash ice cream) 😀 <3 xxxxx

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    • Haha oh yes! The butternut squash ice cream never fails to bring a smile to my face!! Haha seriously though, thank you for this Benjamin. I will definitely keep you in my prayers:) and it’s true. God will take care of us. And yes, gotta keep our countries and their leaders in our prayers! Have a great weekend! Hugs and love xox

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  72. Two tiny bits of advice, 1.) avoid places that could potentially expose you to unsavory words or actions, 2.) try not to beat the virginity drum so loudly, it can be deafening. Ok three… know that when you are evil spoken of for your faith in Jesus Christ, that the Glory of God rests upon you, it is actually a blessing. 🙂

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  73. Fantastic post. Thank you for sharing both experiences. Listen: You are not alone. There are more Christians out there than the bubbles, out-of-touch DC elites think.

    Listen: I work in DC. People here think that because religion doesn’t matter to them, it doesn’t matter to anyone.

    Let them laugh. Let them mock. You said it perfectly: “This isn’t heaven.” I know you don’t need the advice, but keep doing your thing.

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  74. I have to disagree about two things, first (and really the only important one) the feeling that you are all alone. You’re not. And that’s coming to you from across the ‘Christian Culture (eye-roll/puke) divide’ because I’m with you.
    The second is, we absolutely were made for this world; it’s older than the hate talks, and I feel for it, deeply. And when it’s all said and done and remade new, I’m coming right back 😉

    But back to the more important things. Something that becomes much more evident to me is that God said, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’ And Martin Smith sang, ‘The cross is such foolishness to the perishing / but to those who are being saved / it is the glory of God’,

    They don’t get it. They can’t. Even some Christians don’t get it. And it’s the same case and maybe even more wide-spread for virginity–and what do you want to bet that ‘ameteur’ has drowned in insecurity to the point where his only option is to join the mockers and make fun of his own condition because he doesn’t understand that virginity isn’t a sign of inability or failure to perform so much as a sign of conviction and commitment to your body and the security of your relationships. I feel for him, too, a little bit.

    But it’s okay. We’re a peculiar people. And we hold the hope of eternity where all this nonsense in this world is less than a drop in the bucket. And I can’t wait to meet you and everyone else on the other side of this!

    You know, on a slightly different note, I realized a while back that I’m following a number of Catholic writers (read: writers who also identify as Catholic) and they are the ones I tend to follow more closely for posts (I have a lot of posts in my reader I pass over–oops). I’m plenty open about people, but I was brought up in a denomination (or semi-cult if you will) that has believed and taught for over a hundred years that the Catholic church ultimately historically and prophetically is anti-Christ and in satanic ploy (I won’t get into the doctrines any further than that here) (and don’t chew me out yet, Catholics)

    That being so, for quite a long time I avoided anything Catholic altogether (except, ironically, a Christmas program hosted by our local Catholic church which all the churches in the community take part in) and simply avoided the issue.

    But today I have no denomination–don’t believe in and detest denominationalism. I follow Christ, Holy Spirit lives in me, and I love whoever Holy Spirit gives me love to give to. (Read: anybody, everybody). And it doesn’t matter any more; there isn’t a high fallootin enough Christian person out there to tell me who not to love.

    So I hope the full weight of that (His love) rests on you when I say you’re not alone friend, I love you.

    -hugs- Happy weekend!

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    • Oh Carson, this is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing your heart. I am so with you that I just want to whoever the Holy Spirit puts in my path! I definitely see that in you. It’s funny the paths our lives take, but we’ve ultimately ended up in a place of love. Growing up I never really saw a difference in denominations. I obviously went to mass every week, but I attended a Protestant youth group and a non denominational summer camp for 8 years so for me, I just saw everyone as “on the same team” for Jesus. And I guess that’s how I still see it. You are amazing, Carson and I’m so glad we’re friends! And yes-there will be a big party in Heaven one day! I’ll bring the chips and guacamole:) ahah have a beautiful weekend! Hugs and love xox

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  75. Great piece!! I’ve been reading the Chastity, Purity, and Virginity are making a come back, even among the non religious. Our little hidden STD epidemic is no joke. I pray for those people …. God holds accountable those who lead an entire nation astray.

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  76. I am sorry that you are feeling dejected. Hopefully, after reading all the above comments, you are feeling better and hopeful. As I read about your experiences, a scripture came to mind: Tribulation worketh patience; patience, character (maturity); and character, hope. And hope never fails. In my own experiences, I have found that “suffering” with a chronic illness has deepened my relationship with Christ. Would I choose to have a chronic illness? No. Would Paul have chosen to be imprisoned and crucified? Probably not. However, Paul learned the secret of being content in all situations. Suffering is a tool. We can employ it. God bless.

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    • Hi Rose, thank you so much for this. Yes, I am definitely feeling incredibly encouraged and grateful for all the support! What a powerful verse. thank you for sharing it. I’m sorry that you’re having to endure chronic illness. that breaks my heart. What an inspiring way to approach it though. I will definitely keep you in my prayers. And i can definitely relate…I have ulcerative colitis. Yes – gotta cling to hope and cling to Christ! big hugs xox

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  78. You are blessed because you choose to be transparent and truthful in every way. Keep the faith. Hold on. Our day of redemption draws near.

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  79. It’s awesome that you posted this today – recently, I was talking to God about how different I was. And not different in a good way. More like, God, why on earth did you make me this way? Why haven’t I experienced this, or that? I’m too…different.

    And then He talked back. He responded gently, but with sincerity and fatherly sternness: You, my daughter are not called to look like the world. You are different. And that’s exactly what you are striving for.

    It was like, major mind blown moment. Okay, I see you Father. Yea, so I’m proud to stand with you on both front being a virgin and most importantly, a follower of God. We are kind of weird, to the world – actually we are counter cultural. Completely opposite to the world and its standards. And that’s exactly what we’re called to be. Stay strong, lovely and know you are not standing alone.

    “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2)

    “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)

    Also, not sure if you’ve heard of Mali Music, but in case you haven’t, listen to Royalty – not sure it applies exactly, but it’s what I’m listening to right now and it’s giving me life (and encouragement)!

    -Leigh

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    • Hi Leigh! Thank you so much for this beautiful encouragement. What a powerful moment with the Father. So true-we are called to live differently. And thanks for sharing those beautiful verses. Hope you have a beautiful weekend! Hugs and love xox

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  81. I don’t like to read the newspapers too much, but of course some things travel off the page, and I heard about those comments made by the Clinton campaign, and I wasn’t surprised, but it’s a reminder in every situation it needs prayer…maybe more people will pray? Anyway, I get the whole virginity thing cause I’m still waiting…But from wha I have read, you seem like you’re well rounded and this will make you stronger in who you are and in Him.

    p.s. I’ll pray you’ll vote for the best person(in God’s will) possible, I am so glad to be a Canadian (always have been!) and that I don’t have to make a very hard decision, not one to be taken lightly either.

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    • Hi Tamara. So true-every situation needs prayer. Amen to that. Yes, we’ve got to pray for allll of our leaders 🙂 I appreciate your encouragement. It’s nice to know I’m not alone 🙂 hope you’re having a great night. Hugs and love xox

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  83. Dear Sister: you are a great Blessing each time you write. Your honesty, sincerity, genuineness are all good teachers in themselves, and you tie everything together so well.
    I trust this bit of God’s Word may help give you more of Hs Peace. You are a continuing inspiration. God’s Blessings.

    “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.””
    ‭‭John‬ ‭16:33‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
    ‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.”
    ‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    George.

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    • Wow thank you so much George. I am so touched by your kind words. And thank you for sharing those verses with me. So powerful and comforting. Exactly what I needed to hear. Hugs and love xox

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  84. I thought this was an awesome piece! And it is absolutely spectacular that you’re SO rooted in who you are and that you stand up for what you believe in. I applaud you, keep up the great work! : D

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  85. There is no shame in being a virgin, I wish so badly I had saved myself for my husband. But I understand how unsettling or disappointing it can be when people poke fun at you for it. I felt so left out in high school because of that. And all I have to say is “ugh” about the political stuff. It’s a mess and really frustrating how there is so much tolerance for literally every other religion than Christianity. 🙁 Keep standing firm, God sees your heart.

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    • Thank you for this beautiful encouragement. Yeah ugh is right. I’ll be glad when the election is over! So glad you stopped by this morning! Have a wonderful weekend! Hugs and love xox

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  88. This world will push us out on the one hand but on the other hand it will push us further and further into the camp of the saints. –

    Towards people like yourself.

    You are the touch of Love and diligence.

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  89. Wow. You’ve got it going. May God continue to bless you. As I peruse your writings on this site, you’re quite gifted. You’re always one of the first on my BiblicalViewpoint.com site – thanks for your support. Love your stance and public declaration. God is pleased and you will be blessed with a husband someday. My daughter used to feel the same way. (She has 3 children now.) And yes, the previously unknown truths that are coming out on the Clintons are eye-opening. Christians should be very discerning.

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    • Hey Michael! Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words. It seriously means so much! I pray and trust that He will bring the right man into my life. So happy for your daughter! Big hugs xox

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  90. You are a leader among others! We are in this crazy world but we don’t have to be of it. God has his plans. Let them laugh and mock us. We will continue to pray for them.

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  91. I am so proud of your proclamation of your faith and virginity. It is refreshing to hear a woman or man speaking that is living the life God has called them to live. There is a Holy power in that way of living. You have my attention. May God speed you on your journey with him.

    Peace to you Tom

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  92. I met my husband after reclaiming my body and vowing to wait until remarriage to have sex again. If a guy had an issue with my boundary, I had an issue with him and we were done. Stick to your your beautiful truth. Have you read Uninvited? Just finished and loved it. It might be encouraging for your saying season. xo

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    • Hey Ruth Anne. Thank you so much for sharing this. What a beautiful love story you and your husband share. I haven’t read it but I will definitely look into it! Thanks for the encouragement. Big hugs xox

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  94. I agree that a walk with Jesus is not always a comfortable one, but it is a meaningful one and restorative. I wish to say in reference to the teachings that pertain to the role of women, according to Jesus, it is written in Matthew 12:42 that The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. The generation he describes is one that in Matthew 12:39 is said to be evil and adulterous (from their relationship with God). There is a function for at least one woman according to the prophecy made by Jesus.
    Maybe those that attack the church, aren’t reading the churches texts as they could.

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  95. I love this post!! Thank you for standing up for what is true and real and eternal. You’ve gotten so many comments, I know you touched on something that means a lot to many people!! Wonderful post. Hugs from here…

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  97. Wow what an excellent post! Possibly my most favourite one from you, to date! I was a virgin when I got married at 24, and I am proud of it. Well done for being proud of something so deeply personal, and standing by it! And the way you stand up for your faith…thank you for using your voice to make a stand! You are an inspiration! Truly! Megan. Xx

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    • Hi Megan! Oh my gosh thank you so much. This is such a kind note. And thank you for sharing that-it’s nice to know I’m not alone and what a beautiful love story you and your husband have:) thanks for the encouragement! Hugs and love xox

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  98. Good post! You are so right, as Christians we are not of this world. If we find ourselves getting too comfortable here then we have to question the reality of our faith. And virginity is supposed to be normal – before marriage – not at the media believes that’s possible anymore…but it was for me – at 23! Your post also reminded me of the classic Larry Norman album – “I’m only visiting this planet”. I’m thankful you wrote “When the world laughs” – well done.

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  100. Of course, Christianity is at odds with a secular worldview. I mean, Christians are accused of child abuse for teaching the Bible to their children so we all know where this is going.

    But I’m interested in your thoughts about Protestants who disparage your Catholic faith, and how you respond to their criticism.

    Maybe that could be a topic of a future post.

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    • Thank you for this reflection. Yeah that definitely could be a post topic. I like to just think that we’re all on the same “team” for Jesus! So glad you stopped by! Big hugs xox

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  101. I’m not a verfin, however… I’m 10 years celibate. Both faith and sex are very personal issues to me. I can totally see where you’re coming from. However… Know that you are a light and a major encouragement! Stand steonf. Verginity is a precious and beautiful gift. L

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  102. God must be smiling down on you. I loved it when my daughter shared she was saving herself for marriage and she did all the way through college. I know all about the Christianity thing and it doesn’t shock me, but it hurts. I’m a Baptist. We are all in this together as Christians. It’s sad you and I have to be embarrassed, but the only one we have to please is our Savior.

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    • Thank you so much for this beautiful response. You’re right-the only one we have to please is Jesus. Amen to that! And so beautiful what your daughter shared with you:) thanks for stopping by! Hope you’re having a great night! Hugs and love xox

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  106. Girl you just made my smile day lol I’m so glad you read my post and liked it. I’ve been following your blog for a while now and I love it. Thank you for being so honest and real with us. Keep going strong in your faith, I know God has great plans for you! ❤️😊 I love you!

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  109. Don’t sweat it or take it personally. As I tell my son: Just because someone says so, doesn’t make it true. You do you. Wear your virginity with pride, it is a part of who you are as a person. Yet, it was just a joke. We have lots of sexual hangups in this country – and really it’s nobody’s business. In that vein, I feel Clinton’s private emails are nobody’s business either. If anyone were to get a hold of my emails, or take a string of my Facebook posts and publish them – how would they be misconstrued? You can still be offended as a catholic, but I would take anything from Fox News with a grain of salt. Hillary is a christian, she is Methodist not catholic, but she does have faith. Yet it shouldn’t matter. She or whoever commented can have their beliefs, and you can have totally different beliefs. Neither invalidates the other.

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  110. When I was a single and lonely virgin, I was praying about finding someone, and I felt like God told me that he wanted me all to Himself for awhile – kind of like, “let me enjoy my kid all to Myself before you go off and marry someone.” That was when I was a Protestant, and now that I’m Catholic, I see it all the more. I mean, I love being married, but my kids go to a Catholic school where there are these young, vibrant, happy nuns. They are absolutely in love with God and in love with serving Him. The world doesn’t get it, but we do. And I’m sure you believe this, too, but I’m thankful that I waited for marriage till I had sex – incredibly thankful.
    On a side note, holy cow! How do you read all these comments?! 🙂 Wait to go on making an incredibly popular website.

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    • Thank you so much for this reflection. What a sweet way to look at that time with God. So powerful. And wow that is so beautiful about the nuns. Thanks for sharing your story. It’s nice to know I’m not alone 🙂 and haha thanks! Yeah they come to my phone so I can just answer them on the go! 🙂 Hugs and love xox

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  112. One of the best; every part of this sharing resonates with me…..let the world laugh, …what is considered foolish, will shame the wise!!!

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  115. Hebrews 11:16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

    Sounds like your suffering for the right reasons! Continue to stay strong in the faith, sounds like your doing great! God Bless!

    1 Peter 3:17 “For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.”

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  116. I love this. I am glad that I happened across your blog. Your story because there is power. And, like you my faith means everything to me. If we don’t stand for something and my thing is my faith I will fall for anything. And, sadly many, many are walking out on their faith everyday at saddening numbers. Let us not be one

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    • Thank you so much! I’m so glad our paths crossed too! So true. Gotta hold strong to the faith because there is power and hope and life to be found in Him! Hugs and love xox

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  117. Girl you are on the right path! I know a lot of people that had to deal with countless regrets, guilt, worries and soul ties! Not to mention the scares of having possible stds or unwanted pregnancies. Please continue to hold your head and your standards high. One night is not worth a lifetime of pain. Keep holding on to your faith. He will reward you openly for what you do privately.

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    • Thank you so much for this beautiful encouragement. Yes, gotta hold fast. I do trust that He will bring the right guy into my life at the right time 🙂 so glad you stopped by! Hugs and love xox

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  118. […] There this great blog I follow written by a young Christian women in here late twenty’s who struggled with and is recovering from anorexia. The blog talks about her journey of faith that led her through her own struggle with anorexia to a good place of health. In her most recent blog she talks about how she felt recently how the world was laughing at her. One of the things this young lady is proud of, is that she has remained a virgin and plans to do so till her wedding day. But when she went for the first time to a comedy club the first batch of jokes was all about virginity and archaic being a virgin and waiting till marriage was. Then she read about those leaked emails where it seemed like campaign managers where ridiculing the Catholic faith as out dated and misogynic. These two aspects of her Christianity that are very close to her heart- her virginity and her Catholic faith were being ridiculed. She struggled with that, should she meet those expectations, should she continue to follow God? (Read her article here) […]

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  119. We have to stand up for Jesus and others may learn to walk the path through example. I am a practicing Roman Catholic (mass 5 days a week) I do challenge the Catholic church on different topics. I am reconstructing my website and rewriting some articles (it will take time). I hope you find to visit after it has been redone and share your opinion. There is an issue with misogyny ♥ along with other issues. The Church does have to grow into this century in order to survive. Unfortunately, a group of men who live mostly behind closed walls with next to “0” real life experience *is* a problem in this century. Many of them are also aware of this fact. – I really do enjoy your blog. You do a great job getting your points across, in a mostly light manner. 😉 I get wordy.
    Blessings,
    Laurie

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  120. Sometimes I feel like the closer we get to God, the more alone we feel. As you said, this isn’t heaven, this isn’t our final destination. I think people mock what they don’t understand and in someways may be a little jealous of. We live in a world where sex is thrown around like candy, so to be able to say that you’re virgin takes a whole lot of discipline and dedication. People are going to poke fun at anything, and especially at a comedy club where they’ll say just about anything to get a laugh. Take anything you hear from those places with a grain of salt.

    And as far as religion goes, it’s man made so every religion will come with faults. I am a follower of Christ, even though I go to a Baptist Church. My relationship between He and I is the only thing that matters to me when it comes to religion. Don’t care what non-believers think, don’t care what other religions think, I care about He and I. That’s all. This world is going down the toilet drain quickly, and it’s pretty evident that it is. So keep your head up.

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  121. LOVE this post, fellow wordpresser! I’m a lifelong, devout member of the Mormon faith. It was wonderful to read your rock solid and spot on perspective on virginity and faith. You’ve got it right, and you’re not afraid to tell the world! Don’t ever let your voice be silenced. There are more with you than against you. God and His angels, they too rejoice!

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  123. as you know already, I always LOVE & APPRECIATE your straight up honesty. When it comes to the armor of God, which ultimately I hope to wear out EVERYDAY, I have added a Cape: The Cape of Lovingkindness & Understanding. When something from the external world hurls itself at me and I think it’s going to sting…voila! I’ll flourish that sucker in a hurry, and I get all warm and fuzzy. I have now created a women’s size just for you! 😉

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    • Hey Rob, thanks for this. Wow I love that! Lovingkindness and understanding. Boy, could the world use more of that! And a woman’s size!! YES!! hehe thanks again Rob. Big hugs xox

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  124. Reblogged this on Inossi and commented:
    Some of my lifestyle choices are unideal (if that’s a word) in this world… and sometimes it seems that the world scorns at the things that you really value?
    I thought this post really spoke to me… So please enjoy the read

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  125. Caralyn, there are so many things right with you! There are so many things deeply, sickeningly wrong with our culture, but there are so many things right with you! I love reading this blog, because it is such a safe place where you share your faith, and I can feel not-so-alone in my faith, too. As I was reading this post, I was thinking of the scripture passage from John, and then, there it was!!! One way that I think we know that we are on the narrow path is that the way is hard, and we find ourselves rejected and laughed at. Yet, God is with you! These are the experiences that test the faith, and in turning back to God, we grow stronger in faith, hope, and love. That is why St. Luke wrote in the Acts of the Apostles, that after the disciples were flogged by the Sanhedrin, “…they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.” I am encouraged and strengthened by your example of how put your heart into God’s hands in these situations. One final thought, since I’m in a very scriptural frame of mind today… “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13-14). The road may be narrow and difficult, but it is less lonely when we encourage each other, so thank you once more for what you do.

    P.S. I really, REALLY love your gifs.

    P.P.S. I know you like podcasts (at least I think you do). Heard this one the other day, and it sort of fit with what you were writing about here. It’s about the mass readings from Oct 16 (Ex 17:8-13) https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/bishop-robert-barrons-sermons/id75551187?mt=2&i=376567132

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    • Hi Lulu, my goodness what a kind note. Thank you so much. What an eye opening passage. There’s always so much wisdom and guidance in His word. And I can’t wait to check out that podcast! You’re right– LOVEEEE a good podcast. Grateful for you friend. Hugs and love xox

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  126. This is awesome! I felt the same way a few days ago! (Quick story: a boy looked back at me and just laughed at me and tried to make me feel like I should be dressing FOR him and so I can PLEASE others and do what the world would do.) I loved that you said “whose we belong to”. Thank you again for this post💙💙 -Micah

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  128. I saw you only had 364 comments on this post, and I don’t like that number. I much prefer 365–that is, 10^2 + 11^2 +12^2. So, anyway, writing…I have had to console myself often of the verses “Blessed are ye when men revile you and persecute you and speak all manner of evil against you falsely for my name’s sake–for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you. And great shall be your reward.” As also, “Whoso loveth father or mother more than me or son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” As also, “whoso shall lose wife or mother or father for my sake shall receive, even an hundred-fold.” “Eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor revealed to heart of man how great things await those who wait for me.”

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  129. I know this post was published almost a year ago, but seeing it in your “Related” feed concerning your most recent adventure to a comedy club, it has a lost of valuable insight.

    I’m catholic, as well, and I have to admit I have not been as stoic about it as I needed to be throughout my life. I gave into the ridicule (truth be told, I participated in it a lot) of our faith and allowed it to be a contention between me and my relationship with Jesus…to the point where I had been actively rejecting it for many years and even tried to convince my wife that it was something “Bad”. Luckily, for me, her faith is stronger than my own, because she has been a great example in me trying to return to something so ‘totalitarian’ that I don’t feel forced back at all.

    Secondly, virginity is something so…hmmm… I screwed that up long before my wedding night and I can honestly say that I wish I could have presented it to my wife as she deserved. But with that in mind, I have always taught my sons, “The greatest gift you can give any girl you date, is allowing her to give her virginity to her husband on her wedding night”. I simply hope they listen to me…

    Anyways, I’m glad there are people like you still left in the world. 🙂

    Reply

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