About God...

My dearest child, 

Before you existed, you were a prayer, a constant prayer. I prayed for God to grant me the wish to become a mother. I prayed for a healthy child. God listened. I've been hearing and reading many disturbing things about religion, so I would like to explain what I believe in and how I would like for you to understand the concept of God and religion. 

I was raised Catholic, like most Mexicans. I think my first introduction to religion was at night time when my mom wanted us (my sis and I) to talk to God, to pray; we kept it pretty casual. God was a friend, a friend who lived in Heaven and could see everything and hear everything we did. Then we were taught the proper prayers, which I didn't really care for. I like my earlier version of it, addressing God as a friend without any special wording. I went to a Catholic school and was taught there is Heaven and Hell, going to mass is good, Jesus died for our sins and all, but the takeaway was: God forgives all, God is love. This is what stuck. It is still in me; even though I am not much of a churchgoer, I believe in forgiveness and love. I believe there is someone there watching it all, that God protects my loved ones, and that my prayers give me strength. 

I don't believe in judging people in general, but if I judge, which I shouldn't, it will never be based on the amount of time they spend in church or the time they pray. It will be based on their actions, the way they treat people, the way they love. How come you go to church every day and are still mean to your own children? How come you give a lot of money to the church and still show no empathy to the people around you? That is not what I understand God wants. 

People don't like this; people like to stay on the path, follow the rules, but you know, sometimes the rules are wrong, and religion is mostly interpretation. The values remain though. I also want you to get this in your head: God loves you just the way you are; you are perfect. When it is time, God will judge you for all you did, put in the balance the good and the bad, not just one single mistake in a moment of weakness. God will understand. Religion doesn't mean I am right, and everyone else is wrong either. Like there is one religion better than another, all religions have motivated the most horrible acts of war at some point in history. Whatever you choose to believe, make sure you don't only believe its principle, but you have time to test it yourself. People say they are pro-life, they are pretty against abortion, but some of them, when faced with an uncomfortable circumstance, forget what they stood for. That is what I mean, congruence. Above religion, I believe in empathy, in showing mercy, in putting ourselves in other people's shoes, trying to walk in them for a little while instead of sitting pretty up in our high horse. Please also understand that even though we have faith and strong beliefs, we doubt it; it is human nature.

I would like to raise you to believe in God, in Jesus, to see God in the people you surround yourself with, in goodness, in nature, to trust God. Above everything else, I wish for you to be a kind, empathetic, loving human being.