Mom Inquires About St. George

[JustinHesychast]

My mom asked me a bunch of questions today since she knows I snuck to St. George Greek Orthodox Church. She asked if there were seats, I said yes, they have pews. She asked about the dress, if they chanted, had a choir, etc. She also asked me why I didn't bring a pamphlet home... I told her I had saved them and could show her one. She told me she wants to look at it tonight.

I am trying not to get too optimistic and hopeful, but I am! :D

I am just worried that she'll write it off as "weird" again or something when she sees the St. George Apolytikon or some such. So much that I have come to accept and no think twice about, she will be questioning. Such as the somewhat ambiguous "Save us" to the Theotokos, prayers to saints, etc. So I am very nervous in showing her this.

Oh, and the past couple of nights and morning I have prayed to Holy Mother Mary to "enlighten" my mother on the issue. Then today she has been inquiring... :D

[Philothei]

Hey does she know any greeks? maybe if you introduce her your greek friend and she talks to them she might not think we have a "weird" church... just a thought. You have to bring her in slowly... and bit by bit explain to her...Good for you for praying... it always helps, Justin :)

Philothei

[Anhelyna]

Justin - take it very slowly - I'm sure she is now putting out feelers to you .

Don't try and be too deep with any explanations - deal with what comes up as it comes up .

Let her set the pace and be gentle with your answers.

[Protoevangel]

What they said.

... But I'm really happy for you. A little is something to be happy about. :)

[Nichole]

:clap: WOOT WOOT :clap: Something to definitely be excited and happy about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will pray she continues to inquire and wants to go!

[Dorothea]

That's great news, even just the fact that she's asking you about the Church and in a respectful way. That's good. :) It's good on you to ask the Theotokos to pray for your mother. The Holy Mother is such a comfort. :)

[SaintMarina]

What they said.

... But I'm really happy for you. A little is something to be happy about. :)

Ditto!
:crosseo:

[Matrona]

That's great, Justin! Keep praying! :hug:

[Michael the Iconographer]

That is a great start, Justin! I will pray that God continues to open her heart!

[Lukaris]

:crosseo:

[Thekla]

:)

wow !

[JustinHesychast]

So she read the pamphlets, or the "bulletins". She said she wanted to read them in hopes of getting something out of them, but she said she didn't. She told me she found them odd and hard to read (the greek words in English letters, like Philoptochos, Apolyitkon or some such, etc... and she said the greek epistle and Gospel with the English translation threw her off). Plus at the bottom is a small print thing about proper dress and behavior (no gum, cell phones, long sleeves and long pants, women preferably dresses or skirts below the knee) and she said she didn't like that. I told her dress slacks and such were fine... and that I wore regular street clothes without getting a second look. She also said she doesn't think she'd enjoy being there.

[buzuxi02]

So she read the pamphlets, or the "bulletins". She said she wanted to read them in hopes of getting something out of them, but she said she didn't. She told me she found them odd and hard to read (the greek words in English letters, like Philoptochos, Apolyitkon or some such, etc... and she said the greek epistle and Gospel with the English translation threw her off). Plus at the bottom is a small print thing about proper dress and behavior (no gum, cell phones, long sleeves and long pants, women preferably dresses or skirts below the knee) and she said she didn't like that. I told her dress slacks and such were fine... and that I wore regular street clothes without getting a second look. She also said she doesn't think she'd enjoy being there.
Without knowing the demeanor of her reaction, it doesnt sound all that bad. So far so good!

[JustinHesychast]

Ya, not too bad. I'm going to try and talk to her about what confuses her on the bulletin. Maybe not tonight... she aint in the best of moods. :P But ya, her demeanor was quite calm (surprisingly) when she told me all that, and they sounded like genuine questions and she had a genuine confused and inquiring tone to her! ^_^

[ma2000]

:) That's wonderful , Justin!

[Mary of Bethany]

:crosseo:

Mary

[Orthocat]

the prayers of a righteous man avails much...


Continue your prayers. Nothing will work greater than these. Bottom line.

Let all your actions be that of a righteous person. In that, she will see that it is not some weird thing and the more you conduct yourself according to holiness the more she will think, "hey, maybe there is something good to this after all..."

When questions are asked, answer them without excitement or emotion but remain calm and assured. Don't let passions rule you if passions rule her. If you do not know an answer, say so, but let her know you wil find out.
No matter what is thrown at you, always show your love and concern for her. Always remember honor - she is your mother and she does have the ultimate say - until you are a "grown-up" on your own. (Even though age is not necessarily a sign of maturity, as we all know :) )

I remember some of what you are going through from posts in the past. It sounds much more promising now.

All our prayers will be with you, that God will give you the right words to speak in their correct time.

I was just reading where St Elizabeth the New Martyr received some heartache from her family when she became Orthodox.

"Once the decision was reached, it proved a difficult task to make it known to her relatives. She writes to them at this time that she is "intensely happy," but that it pains her to cause grief to her beloved family. And yet her determination was firm, "I am sure God's blessing will accompany my act which I do with such fervent belief, with the feeling that I may become a better Christian and be one step nearer to God." Explaining the reasons for her decision, she writes in a letter: "Above all one's conscience must be pure and true... many will -- I know -- scream about (it), yet I feel it brings me nearer to God... You tell me that the outer brilliance of the church charmed me... in that you are mistaken -- nothing in the outer signs attracted me -- no -- the service, the service, the outer signs are only to remind us of the inner things"

Stay strong. You are young and your future looks to be filled with the beauty of our Way.

[EmperorConstantine]

Cool. :cool:

[Chocolatesa]

:crosseo:

[JustinHesychast]

Mom said we won't go tomorrow to church at all cause Daria (nearly 3 year old sister... we are trying to adopt her) has the flu. But she said she'd think about letting me by myself walk to St. George church!! :D Also, David (her fiancee) is going back on the road as a truck driver again this weekend (he has been driving the bus lately, but switched jobs a week or so ago). She said she would probably go with me one Sunday when David was out on the road (he's usually gone days or a couple weeks then home for a few days) and when Daria was with Tosha, her biological mom.

Progress, people! :D I'm quit thrilled! ^_^

[Nichole]

:clap: WOOT WOOT :clap: As you should be excited for this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY for you!

:crosseo:

[JustinHesychast]

Thanks BMW! ;)

[Anatole]

That's great Justin!
Remember, all good things are possible if we put our trust in God!
I will continue to pray for you and your family!

[Monica, child of God]

Wow! This is great!

M.

[Anhelyna]

This is fantastic news Justin :D :D

Continue to take things quietly and calmly .

[JustinHesychast]

I get up early this morning to go to church, and she says she doesn't remember the conversation when she said I could go this morning! So now I'm not going anywhere at all cause Daria is sick. She went on and on talking to me for 45 mins about Orthodoxy that she hates, me being gay, etc.

.... And STILL denies the fact she said I could go this morning. I'm so disappointed. I hardly got to sleep last night cause I was so eager to go!! I even woke up at 7 something and made myself go back to sleep cause it wasn't time to get up yet!

[ThePosterFormerlyKnownAs]

Hang in there, man. You only have a little over a year.

[Thekla]

Justin,

I admire your patience and fortitude.
We could all learn a lesson from your example.

in my prayers :)