New Moon

"'You try very hard to make up for something that was never your fault,' I suggested while a new kind of tugging started at the edges of my skin. 'What I mean is, it's not like you asked for this. You didn't choose this kind of life, and yet you have to work so hard to be good.'

"'I don't know that I'm making up for anything,' he disagreed lightly. 'Like everything in life, I just had to decide what to do with what I was given.'

...

"'I'm sure all this sounds a little bizarre, coming from a vampire.' He grinned, knowing how their casual use of that word never failed to shock me. 'But I'm hoping that there is still a point to this life, even for us. It's a long shot, I'll admit,' he continued in an offhand voice. 'By all accounts, we're damned regardless. But I hope, maybe foolishly, that we'll get some measure of credit for trying.'"

-An excerpt from New Moon, by Stephenie Meyer (pp. 35-37)

All that I can say is wow! I really connected with the passage in the novel. It touched me spiritually and let me know that I am doing the right thing by staying in the church. It is always nice to get this revelation every once in awhile.

Bella really hit me hard with the question, "What I mean is, it's not like you asked for this. You didn't choose this kind of life, and yet you have to work so hard to be good." Then I loved Dr. Carlisle Cullen's response, "Like everything in life, I just had to decide what to do with what I was given."

This is so true in my life. I have made my decision and I do not think that I will back down from it (only time can tell if this is true, but it seems like it will never happen). I decided to stay in the church and at the same time deal with SSA. Instead of "going gay" and leaving the church for good. Like Carlisle, I believe that there is a greater purpose in my life and I will be able to handle my purpose in life because of the trials that I have gone through with SSA. We will get credit for trying and we will be blessed.

Never give up hope. God loves you because of who you are and what you can do. Sure you may make some mistakes every now and then, but it is for your betterment. You will grow and become what God wants you to become as long as you put your faith and trust in him.

Remember that God will always love you because you are his child; no matter what you have decided to do with your life with what you have been given. He loves you...