7QT “Welcome Home” Edition – Catholic Folks Know How to Extend a Warm Welcome

This set of 7 Quick Takes needs a preface:

I once had an experience with a Christian lady, that has stayed with me for a long time. This was before I was Catholic (sooo, you know, more than two weeks ago). Before I had even fully crossed over into the realm of atheism, long ago. I had become somewhat disenchanted with Christianity. I was observing lots of things that I thought were very hateful, happening in the name of Christianity. Then I moved to North Carolina with my husband. Except we weren’t married then. We moved in to our new house across the street from the neighborhood gossip, and next door to the neighborhood Christian lady (according to the gossip).

Our next door neighbor seemed like a nice woman. She was married and had a cute little daughter. She was blond and perky and her name was something like Bunny. One day when I was outside pulling weeds in our front yard, she drove her small SUV into my driveway, with her sweet little girl in the back seat. She rolled down her window and smiled a big Southern-charm-filled smile at me and said, “Hi! (sounds like ‘hah’ in the South) I just wanted to stop by and invite you and your husband over to dinner!” I smiled my big old Yankee smile right back and said, “Oh hi! He’s not my husband. But sure, we’d love to come over for dinner some time.”

The Southern-charm smile disappeared from her face lightning-fast and was replaced with a pursed-lip grimace, which could have easily led one to assume she had just accidentally consumed sour milk. She immediately threw her little SUV in reverse, said something like “Okay, well, I’ll be in touch” and sprayed gravel when she speed-backed out of my driveway as if she though our sinfulness was contagious. She never spoke to me again. We lived next door to her and her husband for about four years, and she never once spoke to me after that day.

Now. That incident obviously wasn’t what caused me to become an atheist, but I was already leaning away from religion, and her behavior simply added fuel to my “Christian people are not nice, they are judgmental and hateful” ideas that I had at that time (admittedly, I was immature and obstinately ignoring all the quietly kind and lovely Christian people I’m sure were all around me, but that’s not my point here. . .). Not long after this happened I began reading atheist books and listening to atheist recordings. And we all know how that turned out.

Fast forward about 11 years and here I am, marveling almost daily at how amazingly kind and generous and loving people have been to me as I have gone through my conversion. I once believed that Catholics were some of the worst of the bunch when it came to Christian hate-mongering. But, oh my goodness, the Catholic love that has poured forth toward me in the past year, especially in the past few weeks, is incredible. Here are some examples I just had to share:

1.

Did I ever tell you about how Super Friend told me that she used to pray the rosary for my conversion?

We were dear friends before I found religion, when I was still very firmly atheist. I knew, in a vague sort of way, that she was Catholic. But I didn’t think much about it. We never talked about religion.

She is one of my favorite people in the world for many reasons, not the least of which is that she loved me and was an awesome, supportive friend to me even knowing that I was an atheist. She never, not once, for one second, made me feel judged, in spite of the fact that she is a devout Catholic (or maybe because of it?). But she did pray the rosary for me. She prayed the rosary for me! That is so amazing to me on so many levels.

Come to think of it, probably a lot of people prayed for me. But none of them were judgmental of or rude to me. Not once.

2.

The Godmother (I love that I have a Godmother!!!)

Yeah, I know. She was called my “sponsor” for all the months of RCIA, but whatever. I’m calling her my Godmother. From now on and forever more, that’s what I’m saying.

She gave up her nightly glass of wine during Lent for me and my husband. Because of something she knew we were going through. She never even told me. She just did it. Something I said to her during our retreat on Holy Saturday prompted her to tell me that she had done this. But for 40 days, she just quietly gave that up. She didn’t expect any praise or thanks from me. She just did it. I’m still left speechless when I even think about it.

3.

There is a Catholic store here in town that I just love. The store carries great books and toys for my kids (and for me), and gifts, and everything fabulous. And also the women who work there are just delightful. Yesterday I went in the store and the owner happened to be there. She has been so supportive of me through this whole conversion process, but yesterday was the first time I’ve seen her since the Easter Vigil. She nearly screamed when she saw me and gave me a bone-crushing hug. The excitement she displayed over my conversion was so amazing to me.

After I made my purchases, she hustled me into the book area of the store and went directly to a copy of Something Other Than God. She knew that was the perfect book for me, and she wanted to give it to me as a gift.

I didn’t realize at first that she was trying to give it to me. I thought she just wanted to show it to me, so I told her I already have a copy (and have read it twice and reviewed it in my last post. . .). When I realized she wanted to give me a gift, I immediately demurred, but she was not to be dissuaded. She was determined to give me a gift to express her happiness for me. And she did. “Welcome home,” she said.

4.

And since I mentioned her book, I’ll add that Jennifer Fulwiler, probably one of the busiest ladies evah (she has six kids, home schools them, writes a blog, just released her book, ahem:

Get it, and travels all over speaking and other stuff), left a comment here on Holy Saturday, a few hours before the Vigil, to tell me she was praying for me and excited for me. The kindness of all of these people just blows my mind.

And then so many messages poured in after the Vigil. “Welcome home!” “Congratulations!” “Please let me know if you need any help on your journey,” and on and on, the wonderful comments and messages kept coming. Strangers and friends alike, these people are so kind and thoughtful and funny.

5.

And speaking of funny, when I showed Heather the picture that was inspired by her (infinitely better) drawing talent:

She sent yet another wonderfully kind “Welcome home!” email and also was sweet enough to mention how great it was that I was receiving the Eucharist from Richard Simmons. Who knew Catholics are funny!?

6.

I’ve received Facebook messages, emails, blog comments, text messages, and gifts in the mail, both from people I love and from complete strangers.

Because I was interviewed by our priest at the end of the Vigil and the recording of the video was shown during the Masses on Easter, many people have come up to me and shown support, both at our parish and when I have run into parish members out and about. Total strangers have hugged me and shaken my hand. Again, “Welcome home” has been the predominant message. I am humbled and in awe of the enthusiasm people have for a new member of their faith.

7.

Though much of the what I mentioned above focused on kindnesses from fellow Catholics, I would never want to neglect the wonderful support from many, many non-Catholic friends, family members, and readers. We all love the same God, and you all are daily reminders to me of how wrong I was so many years ago in making sweeping generalizations about all Christian/religious people based on one experience and a lot of negative press.

Catholic or Protestant or Mormon, I have felt the love from near and far. Loved ones and friends from Michigan, Florida, Ohio, Iowa, Kentucky, Tennesee, Colorado, Arizona, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Missouri, Oklahoma. . . Strangers from many more places. I hold you all in my heart and am grateful for you.

I try to remember often that neighbor in North Carolina. I try to remember her so I won’t forget to always treat others with kindness and compassion, even when they don’t believe or behave the same way I do. I hope I will be able to take all the kindness and excitement of the past few weeks and months and pay it forward to others someday.

For more Quick Takes, check out the link up HERE.